The Trap of Self-Rejection

Theologian Henri Nouwen understood inherently the temptation that confronts us all – to believe that we are worthless and unlovable.  We honor his reminder to us that “Being … Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence”:

Over the years I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection.  Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection.  When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions.  The real trap, however, is self-rejection.  As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, “Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody.” … My dark side says, I am no good … I deserved to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned.  Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the “Beloved”.  Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.

Photo by Danie Franco on Unsplash