Are you guilty of one-upmanship?
Do you remember the song from 1946 “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better!” by Irving Berlin? Or in 1962 Tom Paxton’s song “My Dog Is Bigger Than Your Dog!”
Both of these songs expound on one another’s ability to be bigger and better than the other. The need to feel important can take over a person’s life if they are not mindful of the possibility. Why do we have the urge or the need to be the biggest and the best?
I cannot answer for you, but for me is the desire for acceptance and approval. To show the world that I am worthy. Worthy of what you may ask. Love, friendship and accolades. Because we all have a certain amount of self-doubt going on in our lives. Could-of, Should-of, Would-of, is one of our favorite mantras. When will we ever realize our only measuring stick should be ourselves? Did we try hard, or do our very best? Our success and failures should not depend on what others think of or measure us up to.
The Bible says: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31 and that should be our only measuring stick. Would He be proud of us? What others think should not matter, but if we can live with who we are.
As parents we need to teach our children to be proud of who they are. Their curly or straight hair, freckles, blue, black or brown eyes. They are made in the image of God and perfect in his sight. Protect them from getting caught up in the world’s standards of beauty and fame. I Corinthians 10:31 is a good life verse for anyone.
We as writers have our characters caught up in all the things of this world and they really never find happiness until they turn inward and find their true self-worth.
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.
Proverbs 16:16-20