So 2013 has come and gone…and once again we stand on the starting line of yet another year, another number, another cycle. Been here and done that for many more years than I’d like to admit! (Yep, i turned 40 – it wasn’t easy! I’ll tell you about that experience in another post maybe!)
Many of us are familiar with the phrase” Tzelem Elokim” – “Image of God” , an accolade used to express the unique and lofty nature of the human being. A phrase that is good to remind yourself of every time you reassess your lives and your goals.
However, according to many Biblical commentaries – “Image of God” is a quality or dimension that we must strive for, but are not innately so. Whether it be the power of choice, and our charge to choose good over evil, or whether it is simply the maxim of “walk in His ways” – these are goals which we are here to live up to and achieve. Hence, the famous words first spoken to Avraham – “Lech-Lecha” as translated by some “Go TO yourself.” The religious experience is not at about self denial at its core…but rather empowering one with the tools for self realization on one’s highest and most meaningful of levels.
However, as it turns out, we often feel that we are in fact closer to that ideal of maximizing our potential and all around above average. However, I came across an interesting article that challenges our perception of ourselves…after all – if we all see ourselves as above average…that simply can’t be right…some people have to be the “below average” for others to be above it. A phenomenon known as “illusory superiority.”
Take a look at this article that challenges us to look at ourselves honestly, and also find ways to strive to take our true selves to even higher heights…don’t be threatened by the challenge – as it isn’t saying that we are all bad and have to become good but rather how do we go from (to borrow a phrase from Jim Collins) good to great.”… after all…you are already above the average…right? 🙂
Except from the article….
On a scale of 1 to 10, you probably think you’re a 7. And you wouldn’t be alone. While it’s impossible for most people to be above average for a specific quality, people think they are better than most people in many arenas from charitable behavior to work performance.
The phenomenon, known as illusory superiority, is so stubbornly persistent that psychologists would be surprised if it didn’t show up in their studies, said David Dunning, a psychologist at Cornell who has studied the effect for decades…. Click here to keep reading