That's the thing. If you are down about yourself, even if you make light of it, it makes the other person feel disrespected. This is the reasoning:
He chose to be with you. You talk down about yourself, point out your short-comings. So, it is almost like making fun of him for choosing to be with you.
"Hey, dope - what is wrong with you? Why would you be with someone like me, who is so (fill in the blank with the negative image of the moment)."
A huge reason that my ex left is not because of the things that I didn't do around the house - he knew me for over 20 years, knew that I prioritized quality time iwth loved ones, volunteering, teaching, etc., over housework. It wasn't a problem until friends who we had recently gotten close with started teasing (still don't know if it was out of subconscious jealousy or just got too comfortable and boundaries were crossed)..... what OTHER PEOPLE started to make a joke out of. He started to feel like a shmuck because friends would joke about him pitching in around the house.
It was his perceptions - I guess it is always about each individual's perceptions, really, what makes up their reality. Some are more swayed by how other's view them, some are very hard on themselves...
That is where the power of positive thinking comes in. All the hype around "the Secret." Manifesting what you are thinking about. If you treat YOURSELF with respect and love, that is how others will treat you. Project it out to the world. Demand it from those around you.
THAT is attractive. That tells the person that you are with that they made the right choice, that they are brilliant to be by your side, that they are lucky to have you.
And Mish, Gabe is lucky to have you. It is not the other way around.
