I recently watched the movie Lincoln staring Daniel Day Lewis. As we know, Abraham Lincoln was our nation’s president during the Civil War. He is known for his leadership, insight, and inspirational speeches. In one of his addresses to the nation, Lincoln used this phrase which has since become legendary, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Of course, he was referring to a nation that is fighting against itself, waging war on its own people has little chance of surviving, much less thriving. I have found this to be just as true for people as it is for nations.
“What do you mean?” you ask. “How can I stand against myself?” Every time you look in the mirror and say to yourself, “You’re too fat. Why can’t you lose weight?”, You are standing against yourself. Every time you forget to do something and think to yourself, “You’re so stupid. Can’t you get anything right?”, You are standing against yourself. Every time you let an opportunity pass you by because you think, “You’re not good enough.”, “Why would they ever choose you?”, You are standing against yourself. Every time you decide not to connect with someone because you think, “Who do you think you are?” “They don’t want to talk to you.” You are standing against yourself.
When you stand against yourself, you cannot thrive. In fact, you can barely survive. Did you know that we, as a nation divided, suffered more causalities during the Civil War than all the other wars combined? Stop standing against yourself. If you wouldn’t think the same negative thoughts about your best friend, then don’t think them about yourself. If you wouldn’t say the same defeating, harmful words to your best friend, then don’t say them to yourself. Reinforce your own house by thinking and saying things to build yourself up, not tear yourself down.
If you want to learn more, here are some resources to check out:
- Emmaus House: http://www.emmaushouse.net/
- Girls Inc.- http://www.girlsinccc.org/
- Healthy Babies, Healthy Mothers: http://janetgrahamfund.com/healthy-mothers-healthy-babies-coalition/
- Community Solutions: http://www.communitysolutions.org/ 637-1094