Sometimes we are hard on ourselves for lacking perfection or not being strong in various instances in life. Perhaps God is using our weaknesses or imperfections for making an impact on others. The realization of our own faults, in effect, can cause us to grow and to perhaps bring a desire to wish to improve.
Many times we are simply defending our egos, we feel embarrassed or hurt, and our emotions put us in a self-defense mode. Anger at ourselves is actually the root of our negative emotions! At the very core of our being, is this self-repair defense.
There are lessons to be learned from both internal and external conflicts in life.
If we can turn a negative experience into a positive by 'dying to self', admitting our weakness, and striving to do better next time; we then have growth, which quite possibly, will set an example to others.
Life experience: While attending an AA meeting as a guest, I was completely humbled and taken aback by the absolute baring of soul that took place. These attendees were digging from their darkest recesses to confess their shortcomings, and the multitude of problems and pain they inflicted on themselves and others. These 'witnesses' are presented to the group to help one another find a way to bring strength and healing from hitting a rock bottom of weakness. I wondered if I could ever find the courage to publicly confess my shortcomings, faults, much less, sins!? I learned so much that evening about growth,healing,forgiveness, and compassion by seeing these people give in to ego and fear, to die to self, with a wish to improve themselves while helping others.
