Sentimentalism and Self-Sentimentalism - (1242)

Introduction

These two words: sentimentalism and self-sentimentalism are quite prevalent in life. Less for some people, more for others.

This ‘less and more’ often varies according to geography. The ego certainly has a geographical component and the people of different nations may be more sentimentally inclined in certain areas than the people of other nations. I think that you have picked this up already. No need to give examples.

Certainly with this I don’t want to say that one country that is rather sentimental in a certain area is somehow ‘less than’ or ‘below than’ another country that is not sentimental in the same area. It is more about knowing and becoming aware and transforming if there is anything to transform.

Sentimentalism and Self-Sentimentalism

Sentimentalism and self-sentimentalism are linked. Sentimentalism towards others is ok, but self-sentimentalism (ego of self-sentimentalism), that is sentimentalism towards ourselves, trapped in relativity is much worse, it can really hurt. This ego is one painful and ‘tough nut to crack’.

Just a note, another name for the ego of self-sentimentalism is self-consideration, and self-compassion.

Sentimentalism is Forced

Observing sentimentalism, we see that it is a lot about forcing things, going over board, doing extra, in general going beyond what is practical and sometimes sufficient or quite adequate.

In sentimentalism there is a silent agreement in place that says that “you see me sentimentally and I’ll see you sentimentally and then we know that we love each other”. This silent agreement is at the base of the ego of self-sentimentalism. We’ll see more of that later on.

Whenever there is sentimentalism there is always those characteristics of an extra effort, an extra wait, extra consideration, a delay or a stop in the flow of life and life’s events.

Sentimentalism is to force things. It is something subjective, we are sentimental with those who we are friends with, with those who are in our family, in our group and those whom we love.

Sentimentalism is not Just

Sentimentalism often wants to avoid justice. When we are sentimental about something we don’t want to see it get harmed, or face justice. With sentimentalism we think that because it is us or the person or people that we love, justice must look upon us or them sentimentally, and not raise her sword against us or them. But justice is blind, it doesn’t, and it can not distinguish.

In short, sentimentalism is not just. Sentimental thinking believes that because we are ‘little, poor, beautiful’ justice should turn a blind eye.

Justice appears cruel to sentimentalism.

No Sentimentalism in the Internal Worlds

It has been said that there is no sentimentalism in the internal worlds. What one has earnt one is credited for and one does not get anything that one has not worked for or has does not deserve!

Ego of Self-Sentimentalism

This painful ‘hard nut’ of an ego sees us sentimentally, however not directly but through others. That is its ‘conditioning in relativity’ component.

If we were to eliminate the reference point which in that ego of self-sentimentalism, is other people, it would be ok, there would be no pain.

Because of the reference point being other people we expect others to see us sentimentally. If we have a relationship, we will introduce that aspect of seeing each other sentimentally. Then we are hooked.

We are in trouble when the agreement and belief creeps in that we should see each other sentimentally and that is the way that we should behave towards one another, according to that sentimental vision. I say trouble, because this sentimental vision turns out to be a very impractical at times and the expectations often (all the time) get broken and can not be met and hence the pain.

It is an impractical ego that is not really so much in touch with reality. Real life or the events of real life don't always go according to the sentimental expectations, this is because sentimentalism does not exist in nature.

The real self-sentimentalism would be to see that we must do the right thing by our Being inside of us and that we think, feel an act in such a way that we do not harm it. That we take very good care of the Being inside of ourselves. Being kind to the Being within and to others is the complete picture and then we are looking after the Being in us and the Being in others.

To be very enduring, hardworking, patient, caring towards others and then not towards your own inner Divinity is something incomplete and not quite fully right. These virtues are not complete or fully or correctly developed until we encompass our Being and others together.

When we do the above we see that it is wrong sooner or later because we break balance and we exercise them wrongly. If we were to give to others and give to our Being we would be in balance and get it right.

When we do this we give too much to others and not enough to ourselves, and they others get spilt and treat us harsh and then we form an unbalance within ourselves or a debt and we get resentful and then we feel awful and that is not being kind to ourselves or our Being. Our Being does not want to dwell in such a house where there is resentment.

Conclusion

We are sentimental because we have the ego of self-sentimentalism.

Sentimentalism itself is not objective or just, and needs to be transformed into conscious love or into conscious compassion.

The ego of self-sentimentalism, being self-sentimentalism trapped in relativity can be de-conditioned by removing the reference point of others. And ourselves applying a compassion or a love towards our inner Being which is ourselves in a higher origin.

End (1242).