Others

“Never praise yourself. Let others do it.”  (Proverbs 27:2, ERV)

Many of us have heard the saying “don’t get too big for your boots. “Some of us believe that if we don’t praise ourselves. It may be a long time before someone else does. We must value ourselves, our self- worth, and find strength in our own personal power. When we praise others, we recognize in them the efforts they are making in their own lives. As we send out praise to others, we are honoring ourselves.

What we see in others is sometimes what we don’t identify in ourselves. Know that other people had to work hard to get where they are right now, and you can do the same. All it takes is a little belief and one step forward. How can you praise someone today? Remember this poem the next time you feel the need to administer self praise to yourself.

Others will give you credit if credit you are due
And that self praise is no praise happens to be true
He told me without asking of his great job and his recent huge raise
He did seem so willing for to sing his own praise
I put up with his bragging did not wish to be rude
For rudeness can seem so insulting and crude
Listening to self praise can be quite hard to bear
But sad to think such people are no longer rare
Self praise it is no praise some are known to say
Whilst others see self promotion as quite okay
And though love of self it is a necessary thing
You should leave it to others your praises to sing
He felt happy to tell me of his life's success
But I'm not an easy one for to impress.

 “Falsehood often lurks upon the tongue of him, who, by self-praise, seeks to enhance his value in the eyes of others.” (Arnold Bennett) [i]

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[i] Sources used:

·        “Self Praise Is No Praise “by Francis Duggan

·        “Self praise is no praise?” by Sharon Fitzmaurice

 

HAPPY JULY 4TH 2019