Conservativeness
“attitudes or opinions tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions”
As a general rule I tend to resist anything conservative. I grew up with the idea that I didn’t want to be anything like my parents…or the establishment. Through several years of therapy I’ve learned to appreciate some of what my parents were about.
It came about while in one particular session where I was bitching and moaning, yet again about something my parents did or didn’t do. My therapist asked “What if, before you were born, you chose these two people to be your parents?” My first reaction: “what the fuck was I thinking?” After a moment I understood the point of the question. If I chose my parents, what was it about them that made me choose them?
My therapist proceeded with another question. Can you come up with three things that you appreciate about each parent? It took almost the whole session but I was able to do it. What I found was that outside the dysfunction, my parents modeled some tried and true values that I either do today or are aiming to achieve.
From my dad, I learned to have a solid work ethic, a sense of humor, and help others in need. From my mom, I learned the value of women friends, how to be a generous host, and the value of looking nice. I realize that last one may come across as a bit shallow, however, it was more about her caring how she put herself out there in the world. She appreciated nice things…that things needed to be more than just functional…there needed to have some esthetic value as well.
Because I still harbor some old resistance towards my parents (I know…I’m working on it), I’ve taken on some of their attitudes…others need some more attention on my part.
My sense about today’s MotD is that we’re being asked to consider, with an open mind, any established ideas and institutions can still serve us today.
How about you? Is conservativeness a core value for you?
BTW…this is what it looked like before I started…
joyfully,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
inspiring and encouraging creativity, curiosity, and play through the art of mandalas
About the 2024 Mandalas of the Day
Each day I will create and post a mandala inspired by one of 366 “value” words chosen randomly. The objective being to discover for myself which ones would best represent my core values…and by doing so, I hope it inspires you to determine your own.
Mandala of the Day 