Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Self Image

We were talking today about the principles of developmental psychology. The discussion focused on the need to learn developmental tasks in the proper sequence. One well-known example of this principle is the need of adolescents to learn and gender interaction. Simply put: if you don't learn how to get along with girls in adolescence, you are going to have trouble all your life long.

Actually, we were talking about screwing up the same things over and over again. One of the things that frustrates most adults is repeating the same mistakes over and over again. We wonder on our good days why we do this. On our bad days we wonder how could we be so dumb?

It is all a matter of how we view ourselves; if you will, our personal hermeneutic. If you see yourself as a mature adult you will surely encounter numerous occasions to trip and fall flat on your face. If you think of yourself as immature you will lose yourself in continuing anxiety sessions. Paul, the Apostle, talks about not thinking of ourselves more highly than we ought (Rom12:3). He implies that putting ourselves down is just as bad. The mean - real self honesty - is the answer.

So, if I am honest with myself today, I see a number of uncompleted developmental tasks. I see that I need to grow up! How about you?