September 1, 2006
-
Sacrifice
Sacrifice means giving up something good for something better for the good of the whole. It requires an absence of selfishness and the presence of humility. It’s about realizing that life is not just about me, mine, myself, and I. It is service above the self. It is about trusting in oneself and others.
I think that the true work of sacrifice can only be done by a person who has a high SQ (spiritual intelligence) because higher SQ requires integrity. And integrity involves being true to One highest values, conscience, and having connection with the Infinite. It gives meaning and voice to life.
The paradox is that in the mind of a person who sacrifices, there is no sacrifice. To another, it would appear to be a sacrifice because this person is denying something that is currently good. But to a person who sacrifices, she does with joy and not with resentment.
I think strong relationships require sacrifice. They require that we put someone else’s happiness before our own. They require that we give up our impatience, ego, agenda, emotions, time, perceptions, pride, self-centeredness and more.
What do you think?
Comments (12)
Amen.
Have a good long weekend
I think you’re quite right. Have a good long weekend.
I agree. Too many relationships fail because one side sacrifices way too much in comparison to the other.
Life abounds in paradox. We call the cross “sacrifice”… Did Jesus face it as a burden? In my own experience it is like you say, that those who really visibly sacrifice in their own minds aren’t sacrificing at all… they are loving, are living the only way they know how.
Agree, have a good long weekend chi..
not everyone sacrifices out of joy.
as for relationships, that can get thorny if both partners are constantly putting themselves second. They end up doing things they would prefer not to do and an element of honesty is lost.
Such an interesting topic. Service to others is the only path to happiness in my opinon but the interesting part is that our minds tell us to take care of ourselves because nobody else will. We hear that it is noble to help others but our mind tells us to get ours. You almost have to have blind faith to be involved in pure service in order to reap the reward of selflessness which is counterintuitive. I know when I first starting doing service I wanted others to know about it so that I would be recognized and that is not pure service and the results are partial. It is very difficult to do stealth service for others and not tell anyone but that is where the reward lies….
Lenn
I agree.
Sometimes sacrifices are so instinctive that you don’t even realize you are doing it until someone points it out. Other times you are excruciatingly aware of what you are sacrificing, but your love for those you are sacrificing for is so great that you do it anyway.
I think meaningful sacrifice is an act of great love and isn’t the same thing as self-abasement or codependency. True sacrifice creates a positive result for the people for whom you are sacrificing. It doesn’t leave emotionally crippled or feeling a guilty debt for “all you’ve done for them.” It is, instead, truly selfless. As FadeIntoADream said, it also isn’t a substitute for honesty. Lack of honesty would be trying to create an image of yourself as something you really aren’t. This would create a negative result and not a positive one.
Agree, there have been times when I should have and regreated that I didn’t! Thinking of you, have a great long weekend!
Relationships do require sacrifice. Families often give up some things the individual wants for the whole family, Good post, Judi
Sacrifice is an act of love. Have a great week ahead chi Anh.
Hmm, maybe I need to sacrifice my Civilization? What do you think?