By Judith E. Lipson, M.A., LPC

Years ago I attended a seminar that explained how people tend to compare themselves to others in a judgmental manner. Participants were encouraged to look at their own and especially others’ lives as a tapestry. While the front of the tapestry may appear flawless, the back is filled with knots and strings. Therefore it is important to remember:

That which is visible as well as that which is hidden make up the entirety of one’s life; so don’t be fooled by seeing only that which is visible.

As the years have passed, I realize that to understand the individual’s or the collective human experience, there are additional ‘invisible’ layers to detect and understand. How might your life be different if you looked at all the aspects that create your life? Would you then see the completeness of yourself more accurately? What would it be like if you viewed the varied aspects of your own life, and not just the perceived whole?

Please be candid as you evaluate yourself, and avoid dwelling on a perceived negative detail (that cellulite, blemish, etc) as this one aspect does not define your whole self. Allow yourself to see how your life can be different if you recognize the entirety of who you are.

As you seek the awareness of who you really are, you can also observe patterns. [Read more…]