In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, a messenger for Zeus and Hera who rode the rainbow as a multicolored bridge from heaven to earth. In ancient times, the Iris was considered a symbol of power and majesty, the three petal segments representing faith, wisdom and valor.
How ironic that since I began writing in 8th grade, I always felt like I was imparting information – long before I knew the origin of my birth name – long before I knew I was the carrier through which insight flowed from one vessel to another.
Mother’s Day will soon be upon us.
Whether you are a mother or not,
Whether you are male, female or androgynous,
Young, middle-aged or just plain old,
Think about this:
Have you ever found yourself giving excellent advice to others, but not being able to follow your very own advice?Psychologist Igor Grossman coined the term “Solomon’s Paradox” after his research showed many people suffered with this conundrum. Dr. Grossman discovered that people reason more wisely about other people’s social problems than about their own.
King Solomon was the king of Israel who built the first Temple in Jerusalem. He was also the second (after his father, David) and last king of a unified Israel, which was at the height of its power during his reign. He is known for stories told in the Bible about his wisdom and was thought of as a great sage. However, King Solomon, though people traveled great distances to seek his counsel, had another side to him not as glittering or admirable.
King Solomon had a reputation for making bad decisions regularly and had an out of control lust for both women and money. He had 100’s of wives and concubines. King Solomon was also influenced by God’s prophecy to him that his kingdom would be divided. He neglected to instruct his only son, Rehoboam, on how to rule and Rehoboam went on to ruin the kingdom. Hence the name, Solomon’s Paradox. Plenty of wisdom for others; but not for oneself.
How can we circumvent this paradox in our own lives?
When faced with a dilemma, pretend a friend comes to you looking for
answers and guidance on what to do in that same particular situation
Tell your friend exactly what you would do in their situation.
Boomerang it. Do what you told your friend to do.
Continually practice being your own best friend
And keep preserving it,
Iris Ruth Pastor