The Poor Me Ploy

I am  gripped today, by the importance of Growing Up.

Following on from yesterday, where I explored the disturbing notion of people hurting themselves, possibly to gain attention, possibly to avoid responsibility.

Growing Up to me, is the process going from dependent childhood (look after me), to independent teenager (I can take care of myself), to inter-dependent Adult (I will now look after somebody else).

When we were little, if we fell over and hurt ourselves, we suddenly found ourselves the centre of attention, surrounded by grown-ups giving us comfort and care; “There there, we’ll look after you until you’re better”.

But when we left home and set up our own lives  this time surrounded by Peers  not parents,  we found that hurting ourselves and using the “poor me” ploy, didn't get the sympathy and attention we craved. Instead, the realisation dawned on us that we should start looking after Ourselves, with the Aim of Contributing to society, rather than sapping from it like many do.

This is one aspect of Growing Up.

This step (independence) needs to be completed, before we become parents ourselves, and have the massive responsibility of running a home with someone else (inter-dependence), and looking after other little people. Now, there is certainly no place for the Poor Me syndrome, surely….

Yet some people persist with this their whole lives, hoping to elicit sympathy from others and remaining dependent like children.

I choose to think Good thoughts, to take Good actions, to eat Good food, to do Good exercise, to speak Good words, to have a Good nights sleep, in general, to be Good.

I determine to put aside childish ways, and stand tall, an Adult.

Join me on this Path Less Traveled, we will support each other.