Admit It.

We humans need a major reality check. A big, slap you upside the head, knock you on your butt, get your bell rung kind of reality check. We are so unbelievably, horribly selfish. Every day I read the headlines, the articles and especially the comment boxes and I am blown away by how ME focused we have become, how "relative" all aspects of life are and how intolerant and hypocritical people have become in the name of tolerance. Why do I say this? Because I use to be that person! (And if I'm honest, in some aspects I still am - thank the Lord for confession). I use to think this is MY world, this is MY body, this is MY truth, I do things MY way and that is the way it should be for everyone and if everyone just followed that philosophy then we would all get along famously and no one would feel judged or be hurt.

That is the biggest crock of crap philosophy ever. It serves one person and one person only - the person who believes it. It harms everyone else (at some point) and the truth is it also harms the person believing it.

1John 1:5-10. God is light. But in order to walk in the light we must admit that we sin. Most exclaim His great mercy (which is true) but they fail to realize that in order to receive that mercy we must first acknowledge then admit that we have done something (sin) on which the mercy can be bestowed. He doesn't just go around sprinkling forgiveness like pixie dust. His mercy is great, but in order to receive it our humility and our honesty about our concupiscence must be greater.

So if by divine grace we realized that we may have SOME of these tendencies and that we MAY want to change ourselves, what is a person to do?

1. Get over yourself. Start adopting and applying the virtue of humility. Learn what it means to be humble. Take large bites of that pie.

2. Study history. The history opposite of what you know (or think you know). Especially the histories of those you most disagree with. If you are American study European history. If you are a non-denominational Christian, study Catholicism (written by Catholics) **and no, it doesn't count if you were "raised" Catholic and you think you can skip doing this. I know SO MANY "cradle-Catholics" practicing and non-practicing that have absolutely NO idea about the history or teachings of the Catholic church and they believe the same lies and distortions about the church as those people who get their catechism from secular media.** Ask questions about said history, talk to people who live it.

3. Study culture. It is very hard to understand the history of a country or belief if you first don't understand their culture.

4. Slowly take time to reflect on the fact that you may be wrong about some things. SHOCKER! This works only if you have been working diligently on Step 1.

5. Search for truth. Not YOUR truth, THE truth. There are "truths" with a little "t" and then there is Truth with a big "T". Learn to understand and see the difference.

6. Go to counseling. If the thought of doing any of the steps above makes you anxious, angry or defensive, you may have some internal wounds that need some healing.

And lastly, admit it. Admit that you don't know everything. Admit that you are selfish. Admit that you DO judge others. Admit that you don't have any idea about what you are talking about. Admit that you make mistakes. Admit that you are afraid if you don't go along with what the world and the media says is "right" that you will be shunned, hated and abandoned. Admit everything about yourself that you fear the most.

Once you admit it, you will start to see just a shimmer of what it means to be "free".