I like Diogenes’ quote, though William Congreave would disagree, he said: “I always take blushing either for a sign of guilt or of ill breeding.” Rousseau was of the opinion that blushing was a sign of guilt. Yet shame can bring the same result, even anger, and so too, a compliment. Blushing communicates sensitivity, humility and a connectedness to self and others. And I think Congreave was a cynic.
My own view is that blushing is an inward feeling made visible, that perhaps we feel naked, transparent, awkward, surprised, and to blush is a response. That warm glow on our face and neck. Maybe if we don’t blush we have become accustomed to these things, and they no longer affect us. But if we don’t feel these things then we die a little. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said: “An individual dies when they cease to be surprised …” And Diogenes is trying to say that blushing is a good thing, it shows that we are still connected to our feelings, our senses, our understanding of the world and that we have a deep understanding of self and others.
But perhaps you’re more with Rousseau, that blushing is merely showing guilt, but I would only agree on the grounds that I am indeed guilty of being surprised, or feel transparent, naked, humbled, angry, but not necessarily because I am hiding something other than my inner self. Blushing is a sign, a sign of many things that might be happening within me. I think blushing is a mindful virtue rather than just a moral virtue, it is a sign that we also feel and if we let it, it can inform us, guide us, and teach us.
Paul,
pvcann.com
Thanks for this sympathetic explanation of why some of us can’t control blushing. Unfortunately, the blush response itself contributes to the sensation of having our inner world exposed! I love to read you.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Than you Susan for your reflectoin and encouragement.
LikeLike
Nice post
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
well said 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Most welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree more with your interpretation of blushing. I enjoyed reading this. So many thoughts came to my mind 🙂 – Amor
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and yes, amor 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes blushing may in some instances be a sign of guilt but I think in the majority of cases it is what you say a reflection of many things that may be happening within including positive things and yes can if we are mindful of our bodies signs it can inform us of inner processes
>
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely agree
LikeLike