In attempting to identify some of life’s most influential ‘pressions a good place to start may be the beginning with the obsession that many have with what impression other have on us. One individual put it most impressively when bluntly asked by such person, “Exactly what do you think of me?” his equally blunt and candid answer, “I don’t.”
It is mind boggling to me how many people spend an entire lifetime trying to impress others who are seldom if at all aware of their existence without some blatant attempt to attract their attention. Even more puzzling, should you manage to momentarily get their attention – then what? If it’s professional attention and fame you are seeking the real race, if perchance obtaining it, would then be on maintaining it against ever mounting odds. But most attention getting is just petty ego-tripping to live an impressive lifestyle and use impressive titles that we feel would add individual distinction to us. Why? To simply be accepted in circles in which the “stress to impress” bar continues to rise?
Enter repression – the act of preventing, curbing or restraining natural or normal expression, activity or development. One Black athlete put is most succinctly in stating: “Do what you’re good at and passionate about, and hope that they are the same thing.”
Next comes suppression, which entails forcible and deliberate repression of particular desires and impulses all or anyone of which could lead to depression – the act of pressing down or lowering activity, incentive, morale, etc., making dull or bitter; sadden (all according to Webster).
In the Holy Bible we are asked how can you love God Whom you have not seen and hate your brother who you have seen?
And through the Baha’i teachings we learn that we can never hope to alter or affect the devastating mindset and actions of others if we are incapable of displaying any impressive model behavior in our own lives.
“I desire distinction for you,” state the Baha’i Holy Writings. “But this distinction must not depend upon wealth… For you I desire spiritual distinction… In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. You must become distinguished for loving humanity, for unity and accord, for love and justice. In brief, you must become distinguished for loving humanity, for unity and accord, for love and justice. In brief, you must become distinguished in all the virtues of human world-for faithfulness and sincerity, for justice and fidelity, for firmness and steadfastness, for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world, for love toward every human being, for unity and accord with all people, for removing prejudices and promoting international peace. I desire this distinction for you.”
If we individually and collectively, redirect the inconceivable energy wasted on Repression, Suppression and Depression to becoming beacons of light and exemplifying model behavior we would not have to impose ourselves or our noble ideals on anyone. The whole world would beat a path to our door.
