Reinvention

Do we like ourselves? Despite all the things about ourselves we may not like, including whatever limitations and imperfections we have, do we feel good about ourselves?  Are we someone we would not mind hanging out with and getting to know? In terms of myself, while I confess to having days when I definitely would run the other way if I saw me coming, overall, I see myself as being an ok person. Hopefully most everyone sees themselves in the same way. Self-loathing is a very unhealthy state-of -mind to have. Without question, the more we can avoid beating up ourselves the better we are for ourselves and those around us.

When it comes to feeling positive about ourselves, the reality is this state-of-mind is and forever will be under constant challenge. This is because of the many changes that swirl around us each and every day. Such motion forces us to adjust and change the way we happen to be at any given moment. In other words, how we are right now in all likelihood is not how we are going to be an hour into the future. This, then, raises the question: will we like the future-us as much as we do the current-us? Answering "yes" is not necessary a sure thing. This is because future circumstances are different, thus demanding us to not be exactly who and what we are in the present.

The reality of life's constant changings requires us to be vigilant about trying to adjust or, more to the point, reinvent ourselves. This is not an easy thing to do, particularly when we happen to like the present-us. To cite an example, this particular semester I am teaching freshmen students. For many, this is their first-time away from home and not being under the watchful of their parents. Of those, a few are struggling with classes as they are not spending nearly enough time on school work. Consequently, they are not all that pleased with themselves. Successful reinvention requires effective communicating - even if it involves communicating with ourselves.