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High self-esteem allows us to move from acts of self-ness to acts of
compassion. Beyond the concept of self-esteem, we are each connected to a
greater pattern of goodness. We are much more than "self"; we are a part
of everything that exists, or has existed, or shall ever exist. As we
sense and acknowledge our connection to this greater whole,
we enter a "state" of Universal-esteem. Beyond self-esteem is universal-esteem.
Universal-esteem is the inherent value and goodness in all that is. To lift
our thinking from daily focus on self matters into a universal connectedness,
is one of the most glorious gifts of life. From the perspective of universal-esteem
we can see that life, in all forms, is the celebration of God, simply because
God is. Every tree or meadow, each cloud or hummingbird, all things have as much
"right" to exist as do we. Their worth (esteem) and ours are connected and equal.
It seems that nature tells us that there can be no higher purpose than this
celebration of God, simply because God is.
We can sense the electrical joy, the exuberance of life in everything, everywhere.
It is the slow, almost silent unfolding of each day-the gradual movement and change
that constantly occurs.
In doing so, we can have a taste of the great joy of God's being.
Behind this joy is the crowning glory of universal-esteem. I think of it as
a universal-compassion. Compassion expressed in that which we see as love,
and all its related effects; and beauty, with all of it manifestations. Our great
gift task-human is to enact, practice and bring into being these aspects of love
and beauty. It is no small statement to say that the purpose of our lives is
found in how we treat others-all others including even "things". In this respect, no life is
unimportant. No life, regardless of how destructive, was ever in vain. Arrogance
and purposelessness cannot exist in universal-esteem. Universal compassion assures
that eventually all things achieve their purpose, though we may not understand.
It has been said that we must love God with all our heart and all our might.
Our best way of loving God is to not only love each other without moral
, religious or other conditions, but also to love the earth itself and all that is
beyond. It is amazing to me that we have the ability to "add" to the love of God
which already pervades existence. Perhaps, knowing this, we can understand the
most important lesson to be gained from both high self-esteem and universal-esteem.
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