Incredible India Monthly Contest of April#2: Self-sacrifice!
The idea of self-sacrifice is something profound and meaningful to me. When the word is mentioned, what comes to my mind is to sacrifice something valuable in order to help the other person. It is not just loss, but love, care and putting another person above your own needs. Self-sacrifice is, in plain terms, to put others first, thus, it is hard and awkward to do so.
In my view, self-sacrifice is a kind of experience that we encounter almost on a daily basis particularly in intimate relationships. The first thing which comes to my mind is parents. I have witnessed the efforts that parents go through in order to support their kids. They would even deprive themselves of comfort, sleep or even their own dreams just to see their children get a better life. Such a sacrifice does not necessarily show itself, but it is very potent. It demonstrates that, love is not necessarily said, but done.
Friendships and romantic relationships have self-sacrifice as well. The friends help one another even when inconveniencing. As an illustration, a friend can sacrifice their time to assist you to resolve an issue or even to be beside you during a difficult time. Self-sacrifice in these situations makes the relationships between individuals stronger. It instills faith and demonstrates that the relationship does work. In my opinion, relationships can be superficial or egocentric without a certain degree of sacrifice.
I am very convinced that self-sacrifice may contribute to improvement of relationships provided that it is done with good intentions. One can feel appreciated and emotionally attached when one sacrifices on his behalf. It demonstrates that they value and see you as important. It, in its turn, tends to influence the other individual to give and help in return. It forms a circle of care and respect to each other and this is highly essential in any healthy relationship.
Nevertheless, I believe that the self-sacrifice is to be moderate as well. Not all things are good to give up without considering yourself. When an individual continues to give without any care returned, it may cause emotional stress, frustration or even resentment. It has come to my knowledge, that mutual effort should be involved in a healthy relationship. Each should be willing to support and care about the other. Self-sacrifice must not be a weight to take, but must be a free offering of love.
I partially agree with the notion that self-sacrifice is usually aimed at recognition and respect. Human beings need their efforts to be felt so there is nothing wrong with it. When we make sacrifices on behalf of somebody we might expect to be appreciated or even to be recognized. It makes us feel special and comprehended. Nevertheless, I think that not all self-sacrifices are made in order to be recognized. When the primary intention is to receive praise or other reward, then the act is not taken seriously.
True self-sacrifice is made out of love. It is silent, earnest, and requires no conditions. In some cases, the purest sacrifices are those which remain unrecognized. Although it is a good thing to be recognized, it must not be the primary motivator in our activities. This should be based on love and care rather than anticipation of reward.
To sum up, self-sacrifice is a significant aspect of human life and relationships. It also educates us on how to take care of other people, how to be patient, and how to establish good emotional ties. In my opinion, when taken in good faith and moderation it is a beautiful and powerful thing. Although it may improve relationships and bring people closer, it is also vital to keep in mind that self-care is important. The secret of meaningful and enduring relationships is to have a healthy balance between giving and looking after oneself.
I invite @sduttaskitchen, @meraindia and @piya3 @sampabiswas to drop a very constructive comments on this post and also to participate in this contest.
