It is likely you’ve heard the expression, “Get over yourself!” (expressed to someone else of course!).
I don’t think it has quite reached the point of cliché, however it may be getting there given it has several nuanced meanings, depending on the context. At the potential risk of pushing it further in this direction, I still think it’s worth remembering, as a daily exercise of self-awareness. Here are five situations when I know that I need to get over myself:
- When I’m self-centered. I have days when my overall disposition is focused inward, perhaps triggered by a nagging problem. But I know that my Choleric-Melancholic temperament makes me obsessive, to the point that I can be too focused on my own concerns at the expense of those of others. None of us are immune to being self-absorbed.
- When I overreact. While I suspect that I likely do this less often, it’s typically the result of a knee-jerk reaction, which often occurs in a self-centered state (because my personal agenda is being disrupted)!
- When I anticipate compliments. Sometimes, I even impress myself, and when others are not so impressed, I can become quietly disappointed.
- When I talk like a know-it-all. I actually have to be mindful of this a lot, even though I truly don’t like the sound of my own voice.
- When I take things too seriously. This is another trait that perhaps may be less common for me, but I have my moments. We need to not take ourselves too seriously all the time, and self-deprecating humor is a great cure.
What about you? Do you identify with any of these traits?
I should add that the expression itself can be good advice (Dare I say, truth?), especially when used in a playful or light-hearted manner among friends or close colleagues (see Proverbs 24:26). But I think we can all agree that we must first master leading, and knowing, ourselves before we start pointing to others.
And THAT is not being overly self-centered or egotistical. When truly working to improve ourselves so we can lead others, such as an inventory like the one above, or learning about our temperament, we get over ourselves by getting into ourselves—in a very good way.
