Let others be glorious

Here, a simple way to keep away the trifles from overtaking your life which I have learned...

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Our need for excessive attention is that ego-centered part of us that says, "Look at me. I'm special. My story is more interesting than yours." It's that voice inside of us that may not come right out and say it, but that wants to believe that "my accomplishments are slightly more important than yours."

The ego is that part of us that wants to be seen, heard, respected, considered special, often at the expense of someone else. It's the part of us that interrupts someone else's story, or impatiently waits his turn to speak to that he can bring the conversation and attention back to himself.

To varying degrees, most of us engage in this habit, much to our own detriment!

When you immediately five in and bring the conversation back toward you, you can subtly minimize the joy that person has in sharing, and in doing so, create distance between yourself and others.

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The next time someone tells you a story or shares an accomplishment with you, notice your tendency to say something about yourself in response.

Although it's a difficult habit to break, it's not only enjoyable but actually peaceful to have the confidence to be able to surrender your need for attention and instead share in the joy of someone else's glory.

Rather than jumping right in and saying, "once I did the same thing" or "Guess what I did today." bite your tongue and notice what happens. Just say, "that's wonderful," or "Please tell me more," and leave it at that. The person you are speaking to will have so much more fun and, because you are so much more "present", because you are listening so carefully, s/he won't feel more relaxed around you, making him or her more confident as well as more interesting.

You too will feel more relaxed because you won't be on the edge of your seat, waiting your turn to be glorious too.

Ironically when you surrender your need to hog the glory, the attention you used to need from other people is replaced by a quiet inner confidence that is derived from letting others to have it.

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From the excerpt of Richard Carlson's DSTSS.

So, what are your view now...? be a cynosure or be "meek"? you choose one...