Do you struggle with self-consciousness? Are you worried about what others think, whether you’re doing the right thing in their eyes, or have the right look to win their approval?
If so, one cure is to become more God-centered and less self-centered.
To be God-centered is to focus on knowing God’s presence and expressing God’s love to everyone around you.
When one is focused on expressing love, one is not worried about what others think.
I learned this lesson in public speaking.
While public speaking in the past, when I stepped on stage, if I was focused on loving my audience and sharing inspired ideas with them, I had no self-consciousness. I had no fear about what anyone was thinking about me, because I wasn’t thinking about me. I was thinking about them.
The same rule applies to all our relations with others. The more we focus on the presence of Love and sharing it with them, the less we worry about what they think about us.
Self-consciousness vanishes in the presence of God-consciousness.
Being God centered… knowing God’s presence… expressing God’s love…
Takes thought completely off self, recognizing no personality. What freedom!
Great idea, Thank you, Evan. Think more of others and self just disappears.
I love this … this is like self-immolation — removing self to bless others. I love how Mrs. Eddy refers to self-immolation.
Self-immolation – to sacrifice fear to bless others more fully.
Ah yes, the ole “self” family: “”self-will, self-justification, self-love… and more. To be avoided at all costs.
(Reference these in Mary Baker Eddy’s writings)
Work to do, but with joyous, God-given dominion!
This concept “the ole ‘self’ family” is so helpful! It applies to all healing! As we turn to God, and away from self, the truth of “perfect God, perfect man” is realized. As it says in our lesson this week:
“When we learn in Science how to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect, thought is turned into new and healthy channels, — towards the contemplation of things immortal and away from materiality to the Principle of the universe, including harmonious man.” S&H pg 276: 19.
Lovely!
Self-consciousness vanishes with God-consciousness.
That thought is so clear & complete. Thank you, Evan
To all a blessed day!
I absolutely Love this and it is so timely as today I am out of my comfort zone at work. I am a teacher’s aid and today I was pulled to substitute for one of our teachers. All morning wondering if I am doing things right what are others thinking are they thinking critical thoughts etc.
I will not allow those thoughts in anymore!
I am focusing on God and expressing His love to everyone that crosses my path today and to those who my thoughts rest upon!!
I remember complaining about something once and my daughter reminded me to get over myself!! Thank you for this reminder!!❤
I used to tell my Sunday School students that shyness is egotism, being “puffed up” as Paul puts it in I Corinthians 13. This is because, as everyone has stated above, you are only thinking about your self and not what you could do to make someone else feel included and loved.
And boy do I miss your lectures!!! Always so inspiring and sort of “entertaining” what with the chuckling and all. I always went away with something I could remember. Sometimes you love a lecture while listening to it, but later on can’t remember what was said. Not so with your lectures. Thanks for the time you shared your inspiration with all of us.
Gloria
Thanks, Evan for this reassuring message. I have applied it in slightly a different aspect. I love sharing inspiring notes I am using in my daily prayers, but have been hesitant fearing that someone will think I feel that I am more spiritually minded than they are. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. I feel most people are demonstrating better than I am. My motive is not to impress, but to give and share lovingly what has helped me. I just might possibly have something they need and can use.
When preparing for public speaking, I base prayers on Ex. 4:10-12 and Is. 55:10-12. God gives us the words needed just like he did for Moses.
Thank you Evan. Yes, first when I started reading in my church I did my best that the audience sees I had done good and that I am looking good for the guests in church. Of course it is important that the reader looks neatly, as that is an expression of God.
But meanwhile, I am looking for inspiring passages for reading to glorify God and to bless the audience. Before the reading I am aware of the everpresence of God, and that divine Love fills all space! I am very grateful that we can always make progress in our christly doing and spiritual understanding. I am so happy that Evan is teaching us so helpful lessons with the inspiring SpiritView!.
Thank you a l l for your helpful inspiring comments . 🙂
Another aspect to self-consciousness is that when we give too much weight to the opinions of others it wrecks havoc with our peace of mind. But when we are able to love our true spiritual selves as God does and look to share these qualities with others our focus is in the right place.
Thank you Susie, that’s so true what you say! We can pray for the ability to love our true spiritual self as God made us. And we should rather listen to God’s thoughts instead to worry about what human mind thinks about us. Then we cultivate God-consciousness! So desirable.
I speak in front of a group almost everyday. When I focus on the group and welcome them I am fine. When I do post mortum on what I am saying, as I am saying it, I go blank. When I focus on communicating and being loving, having a good time, I am never at a loss for words.
Thank you all and Evan. Recall my school days when young…meeting bullying, etc..and being self-conscious. Was always grateful for my home life…..CS Sunday school class……close friends….and lots of humor.
Love the knowledge of being conscious of God being All in all…..which is truly being ‘SELF’ conscious! God being the only Self and man His reflection.