I thought that this was an interesting study, Selwyn writes: “Next we consider a rather more subtle escape route down which we may run when faced with unpleasant reality – the adoption of superior attitudes. Since we will inevitably feel inferior and inadequate whenever we avoid facing up to an issue, the personality helps us compensate for these feelings by assisting us to develop an aloofness and superior disposition.
One of the characteristics of those who have extravagant notions about themselves is they go around regarding others as foolish.
… we need to be willing regularly to open our beings to God, and pray the prayer that is before us today: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart … See if there is any offensive way in me’.”
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:1-3 (NIV), we read: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, … “
We also see, something similar, in Peter’s first letter (5:5b-6, NIV): ” … All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
I think that the development of superior attitudes can be controlled by cultivating, with God’s help, an attitude of valuing others above yourself. Perhaps a good way of keeping this issue in focus, is to have a time of reflection set aside – say, once a week, where you examine your feelings towards those people with whom you have had some interaction during the previous week. The idea is to catch and control, the development of superior attitudes, before they grow to become a permanent part of our personality.
Any comments?
Superior attitudes
I thought that this was an interesting study, Selwyn writes: “Next we consider a rather more subtle escape route down which we may run when faced with unpleasant reality – the adoption of superior attitudes. Since we will inevitably feel inferior and inadequate whenever we avoid facing up to an issue, the personality helps us compensate for these feelings by assisting us to develop an aloofness and superior disposition.
One of the characteristics of those who have extravagant notions about themselves is they go around regarding others as foolish.
… we need to be willing regularly to open our beings to God, and pray the prayer that is before us today: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart … See if there is any offensive way in me’.”
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:1-3 (NIV), we read: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, … “
We also see, something similar, in Peter’s first letter (5:5b-6, NIV): ” … All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
I think that the development of superior attitudes can be controlled by cultivating, with God’s help, an attitude of valuing others above yourself. Perhaps a good way of keeping this issue in focus, is to have a time of reflection set aside – say, once a week, where you examine your feelings towards those people with whom you have had some interaction during the previous week. The idea is to catch and control, the development of superior attitudes, before they grow to become a permanent part of our personality.
Any comments?