When I was a kid the old folks actually used time-tested parables and expressions. Nowadays most of these come from TV shows (“No soup for you!”) and other popular media.
But before TV took over our culture, those old chestnuts served well. “A stitch in time saves nine.” In other words, fix it now before it gets worse. Good stuff. But I imagine there are youngsters now who just might not even 
know what a “stitch” is.
One that my folks used a lot was, “Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face!”. This one is really old…like how about 12th-century old. Back then, virgins sometimes actually cut their own noses off so they’d be less attractive to the Viking invaders. I daresay it probably worked at least half the time. Yikes.
Anyhow, by the 1950’s virgins had found better ways to protect their virtue…but the phrase hung in there as a way to say not to over-react and take drastic measures that will do more harm than good. It also can mean any harmful act inflicted on oneself for no good reason .
Sometimes we use our best tool, our sharpest knife, to cut off our own nose.
Only problem, as we discovered, was that my lifelong determination to be “different”…my complete outsider attitude, was what was going to prevent me from being successful. That whole deal around not being part of the human race automatically cut me off from the very people I was trying to help. Wow. That was a painful realization. It required a total flip in my self-image.
All of that is to say that what I’d thought was my greatest asset…my different-ness…was a double-edged sword that was cutting off my own nose to spite my face. Resenting the population in general is not a good way to show people that you can help them. Duh.
Sometimes it takes a huge shift in perspective and a lot of effort to even see what your greatest asset or gift is. Well, you can multiply that by 1,000 when it comes time to shift again and see how that gift is screwing you up. In my case, when I look in the mirror nowadays I see a more involved and socially-active man; more open to welcoming people into my life who are different from me. That leaves the door open for those people in turn to see and appreciate my differences. It’s a win-win.
Plus, I get to keep my nose.
Thanks, Therese.
Hey Michael, thanks for the mention.
And I must say that you have been one of the most fun, creative, and talented clients I have gotten to work with. Your willingness to dive in and look at your ‘stuff’ make you a man who is going to succeed at this business.
In addition your ability to write and express yourself is amazing! So between my ideas/kicking-butt and your creativity and courage, we are a winning combination
Blessings!!!