It's not necessarily bad to focus on ourselves. In fact, we need to love ourselves in order to be able to love others. Our self-focus becomes a problem when we get so wrapped up in our own needs and wants that we become unable or unwilling to help others.
Adolescents have always wrestled with, and often succumbed to, a focus on themselves. Insecurities, peer pressure and other factors naturally drive young people inward, often for the wrong reasons. Technology and social media, while presenting a wider window to the world, also often exacerbate doubts about self-worth. People of any age can become numb to needs beyond their own and feel paralyzed about healthy self-care, much less concern for others.
Sr. Nicole Trahan, a young African American sister, invites readers to become more aware of and attentive to the world's realities. But first, she calls us to the necessary challenge of discovering God’s love and our innate goodness within us.
Invite students to close their eyes and sit silently. Ask them to think about their perfect day. Ask, these questions, pausing briefly between each to allow students to reflect:
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How late would you sleep?
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What would you eat or drink?
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What music would you listen to?
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Where would you go?
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What type of transportation would you use?
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What would you do?
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Who would you hang out with?
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Who wouldn't be part of your perfect day?
At this point, disrupt the silence abruptly with a loud noise (alarm clock, clanging gong, airhorn or whatever is appropriate for your space).
Then say:
"Sorry to interrupt your perfect day! It’s easy to fantasize about things the way we’d like things to be. In simpler ways, we make choices every day about things we do and don’t want in our lives. We could close doors to types of food, music or even people. We become less open to what’s going on around us, including people who need our care and support."
"Sometimes we become so wrapped up in ourselves, our problems, our issues and our circumstances that we can't do anything about situations affecting others. We're unable or unwilling to see or hear what's going on around us. Without that awareness, we're unable to speak out for or reach out to the people who need our care and support."
Ask:
1. How did you feel when the noise invaded your daydream?
2. How did the noise affect people around you? Did their feelings concern you much at that point, or were you mostly focused on yourself?
3. What things make you unaware of or numb to the people and situations around you?
Listen to, or sing as a class, "Open My Eyes, Lord" by Jesse Manibusan.
Or pray:
Open our eyes, Lord, to the goodness you see in us and the goodness of those around us.
Open our ears, Lord, to hear your voice and become aware of the needs of others.
Open our hearts, Lord, to your love for us and to deeper love for friends and strangers.
Open our mouths, Lord, to speak your truth with love on behalf of those who go unheard.
Open our hands, Lord, to reach out to neighbors in need and lift up all your people.
Amen.
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