![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 9:44:40
I was just wondering what everyone's view is on self-worth, intrinsic value, human goodness, etc.
I have posted before that I believe human beings, by virtue of being human, have intrinsic value and self-worth. But does that make one "good"?
Do you feel you are a "good" person? Or do you feel that if someone *really* knew you, they wouldn't think you are a good person (reinforced by the fact that people you think *really* know you don't like who you are)?
I wonder sometimes if I am a good person. I mean, I WANT to be a good person, I do think I care about others, and I TRY to do the right things, but it seems like things are always coming back to bite me. Am I ever going to learn?
And, as we have all heard, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, so my 'trying' to be a good person doesn't really matter much, does it?
"Do, or do not. There is no try." - Yoda
Sigh, I was journaling entirely too much last night.
P
Posted by Dinah on August 26, 2003, at 13:04:05
In reply to Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise..., posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 9:44:40
Well, I think I try. I doubt anyone achieves all the time. Not even Yoda. :)
Posted by justyourlaugh on August 26, 2003, at 13:12:21
In reply to Re: Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise..., posted by Dinah on August 26, 2003, at 13:04:05
one day i can be "top of the world" full of life, self importance..
other days i know how horrid i am and want to go away...j
Posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 13:31:27
In reply to Re: Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise..., posted by Dinah on August 26, 2003, at 13:04:05
I dunno - Yoda does pretty good! Of course, it's easy when you're a puppet... :-)
And I don't think you TRY - I think you DO. You ARE a good person, as is evidenced by all the support you provide me and others on this board.
P
Posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 13:33:12
In reply to Re: Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise..., posted by justyourlaugh on August 26, 2003, at 13:12:21
> one day i can be "top of the world" full of life, self importance..
> other days i know how horrid i am and want to go away...!!!!!Except that you're NOT horrid!!!!!
I certainly don't want you to go away, and I feel confident others here would agree with me. You are a wonderful person - not horrid at all! Just the opposite...
P
Posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 13:39:56
In reply to Re: Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise..., posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 13:33:12
Above two are in response to Dinah and JYL's posts. I keep forgetting to check the "add name of previous poster" box!!!
P
Posted by Dinah on August 26, 2003, at 15:36:51
In reply to Re: Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise..., posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 13:31:27
I have trouble remembering that darn box too, and when I do check it it's when I din't mean to.
I don't think any of us "feel" as good as we would like to be or pretend to be. One reason I like being with my therapist is that he knows I'm not good, and accepts me anyway. One reason being married stinks is because my husband also knows I'm not good. But he has to actually live with me so acceptance comes harder. :)
How about we're all works in progress?
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on August 26, 2003, at 16:09:48
In reply to Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise..., posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 9:44:40
> Do you feel you are a "good" person? Or do you feel that if someone *really* knew you, they wouldn't think you are a good person (reinforced by the fact that people you think *really* know you don't like who you are)?
-------------Of all the Internet boards, it's most relevant here to mention that self recrimination is a common symptom of depression. I only mention this obvious fact because it was such a feeling that alerted me to my own growing depression recently. Now, I don't have the answer to such a metaphysical question as "what makes for a good person", but I think that you can judge the quality of your own discrete actions by the quick mental exercise of "how would I feel about a stranger who did the same thing?" If you wouldn't castigate the person for such an act, why should you do this to yourself? I argue that you don't choose to, your depressed brain does (of course, I would argue that you don't choose *anything*, but that's another diatribe).
Long story short, if you follow the golden rule, you're doing fine.
Posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 19:37:23
In reply to Re: Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise... » Penny, posted by Eddie Sylvano on August 26, 2003, at 16:09:48
Thank you for that. You are exactly right! It's what the folks here tried to remind me of a while ago when I was talking about how I see the value in others but not in myself.
Do unto others...
P
Posted by KimberlyDi on August 27, 2003, at 14:22:48
In reply to Your thoughts on goodness and otherwise..., posted by Penny on August 26, 2003, at 9:44:40
From what I've learned from research, therapy, and self-analysis... People who start to self-medicate stop growing emotionally from then on, until they stop self-medicating. It could be true of people with mental/emotional disorders and/or chemical imbalances and unhealthy ways of dealing with life. I'm an uncertain teen in a 34-year-old's body. So I'm also having to be mom to my inner child (that doubtful voice) and learn as I go. Inner child says I didn't do it perfect, inner mom replies that I did the best that I could, and that's all that matters.
It's not about being perfect, it's about trying your best. I try never to hurt anyone. If I do, I apologize and try to make amends. I'm trying now to never hurt myself also. Honesty is simpler than dishonesty. Another trick, the less you expect from people, the less they appear to let you down.
Just words... i lost the purpose of this paragraph. ROFLMAO. Another reason I don't lie, no chance of keeping any lies straight anyways with my terrible memory.
I believe that wanting to be good and trying your best to be a good person, will make you an inherently good person.
KDi in Texas
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.