A good friend said this – Women (and men) know what’s good for them but tell themselves false narratives to make themselves feel better or whatever.  We were discussing this principle in the context of romantic relationships but I think this is applicable to a host of other areas – work, pursuits, distractions, pain killers.  In short, we lie.   Why is that?  I don’t exactly know but my guess it has something to do with fear.  Of the unknown.  What we truly want.  Who we are.

I told my daughter that the boy who likes her the most will be the meanest to her.  Intuitively it just felt and sounded right.  It’s probably more of a rule of thumb than true all the time (and definitely not in the case of bullying or abuse).  But I looked it up and a psychologist said that one explanation is that people often fear rejection or think they aren’t worthy so at least on a subconscious level they strike preemptively.  That was the given explanation for why little boys throw stones at the little girls they like.  Well my little girl won’t throw stones back.  She’ll put him in a chokehold – no kidding here, she actually knows how to do this – Brazilian jujitsu and all that.  She also has her dad’s streak (which I used for good – mostly).  This also explains possibly why in many rom-coms, characters who initially don’t get along end up together.  Basically every season of Bridgerton.

Sun Tzu writes that the path to victory is to know your enemy and yourself.  The former is definitely important but the latter maybe more so.  That takes vulnerability, humility, and courage.  All rare qualities.  A constant battle and struggle.  

Maybe that’s also the true meaning of love your neighbor as yourself.  It’s not about pampering yourself or even accepting who you are but rather knowing  who you are, what you want or need, and maybe the sum of it all – who you were created and destined to be.

My DA Chief and I discussed why Satan and his buddies decided to rebel against an all loving God.  And maybe that’s the answer – we tend to reject what is actually good for us.  Probably something to do with wide and narrow paths and roads less traveled.  

Sweet the sin 

Bitter the taste in my mouth 

I see seven towers 

But I only see one way out 

I took the poison from the poison stream 

And I floated out of here

She will suffer the needle chill 

She’s running to stand still