I've recently been thinking a lot about the concept of self love. At a work retreat we did an exercise where we listed each employees best qualities. Most things were centered around their office self, but it was still special to see people get emotional to hear what others loved about them. We then had to list one of our own best qualities. It was so hard!
I don't think of myself of an overly critical person. I'm proud of the person I am and all my good points. But sometimes life gets in the way and stress clouds the good. After making a stupid mistake and feeling ashamed, the bad things seem to be all I remember. This is an effort to remind myself of the things that I'm happy with.
1.) I'm sensitive. I feel everything. Seeing other people in pain tears me apart - even strangers. I think this has opened me up to being hyper aware of others feelings and being careful about the way that I word things.
2.) I'm creative. It seems that I look at the world in a different way than most people. I love to go shopping with family or friends and pull out these seemingly odd clothes and then pull them off and prove them wrong. I can find beauty in a mud puddle. I can turn a toilet paper roll into a piece of art. It's all in how you work it. It's all in an objects potential. My creativity also allows me to express myself through art in a way that I will forever be grateful for.
3.) I have a great body shape. This one feels weird yet good to say. Let me start out by stating that I do not like my legs. I don't have nice legs. It's just the truth and I've accepted it. Nobody is perfect. But aside from that...I have a nice body! I love that I'm pear shaped and have curves. I love my B cups all the way to my wider-than-most-skinny-jean-sizes hips. I wouldn't change my shape for anything.
4.) I'm confident. High school was not my favorite time period. But after coming through it in one piece, I knew who I was and...who I definitely was not. I'm now completely comfortable in who I am. I have no shame in saying that I barely drink alcohol, my best friend is my mother, and I couldn't even tell you the last time I went to the mall. This is just who I am.
5.) I am an excellent friend. I like to take care of people. I will bring you soup when you're sick, drive two hours after midnight to pick you up from a party, spend my entire weekend decorating for your wedding, or drop everything to watch chick flicks and eat ice cream if you need it. In short - you'd be lucky to have me on your side.
6.) I'm forgiving. This can also be a downfall. I don't hold grudges. I find myself softening to almost anyone with time. People lead hard lives and sometimes the things that happen to them make them do hurtful things to others. I get it and I forgive you. Even you, dude - the guy that I held the door open for who walked straight through it while gabbing on his cell phone and never glanced in my direction. Who knows? Maybe you were never lucky enough to have a mother to teach you manners. I forgive you.
7.) I'm not overly superficial. Everyone gets self conscious, but I don't let it take over my day. I don't know how anyone lives life not going to the beach because they feel flabby that day or staying home from school because their hair color came out darker than the stylist said it would. Excuse my french but, shit happens. You're human. There are more important things to worry about. More often than not, I'm able to remind myself of that and live my life.
8.) I'm not afraid to be informed. Example - I became a vegetarian when I watched a slaughter house video when I was 15 and realized what the norm for meat production in the USA was. It was a real eye opener when I tried to tell others what I had found out and they "didn't want to know" because it would "ruin meat for them". What? You'd rather live in the world of denial? I have no problem with people who choose to eat meat, but please, at least educate yourself on where your food is coming from and make a decision after. Same goes for politics. This stuff is important. Living blindly and just trusting that things will work out and be okay is not for me.
9.) I'm family orientated. My family is number one. They always have been. My cousins are my friends. My aunts are my mentors. My brother is my superhero. They have always been such a huge part of my life. Seeing friends who almost never see their parents and dislike their siblings is so alien to me. I hope this is something that I will pass on to my children. Family first, always.
10.) I know I'll be a great mother. I have no doubt in my mind that I can be a mother. I will raise good children - polite, smart, worldly, beautiful children. I want to be involved as much as possible with their lives. I won't take it for granted and I will give them my whole self. I love that I know that already.
Those last few were hard to come up with! What are some of the things you love about yourself? Have you ever listed them out? Give it a shot!
2.) I'm creative. It seems that I look at the world in a different way than most people. I love to go shopping with family or friends and pull out these seemingly odd clothes and then pull them off and prove them wrong. I can find beauty in a mud puddle. I can turn a toilet paper roll into a piece of art. It's all in how you work it. It's all in an objects potential. My creativity also allows me to express myself through art in a way that I will forever be grateful for.
3.) I have a great body shape. This one feels weird yet good to say. Let me start out by stating that I do not like my legs. I don't have nice legs. It's just the truth and I've accepted it. Nobody is perfect. But aside from that...I have a nice body! I love that I'm pear shaped and have curves. I love my B cups all the way to my wider-than-most-skinny-jean-sizes hips. I wouldn't change my shape for anything.
4.) I'm confident. High school was not my favorite time period. But after coming through it in one piece, I knew who I was and...who I definitely was not. I'm now completely comfortable in who I am. I have no shame in saying that I barely drink alcohol, my best friend is my mother, and I couldn't even tell you the last time I went to the mall. This is just who I am.
5.) I am an excellent friend. I like to take care of people. I will bring you soup when you're sick, drive two hours after midnight to pick you up from a party, spend my entire weekend decorating for your wedding, or drop everything to watch chick flicks and eat ice cream if you need it. In short - you'd be lucky to have me on your side.
6.) I'm forgiving. This can also be a downfall. I don't hold grudges. I find myself softening to almost anyone with time. People lead hard lives and sometimes the things that happen to them make them do hurtful things to others. I get it and I forgive you. Even you, dude - the guy that I held the door open for who walked straight through it while gabbing on his cell phone and never glanced in my direction. Who knows? Maybe you were never lucky enough to have a mother to teach you manners. I forgive you.
7.) I'm not overly superficial. Everyone gets self conscious, but I don't let it take over my day. I don't know how anyone lives life not going to the beach because they feel flabby that day or staying home from school because their hair color came out darker than the stylist said it would. Excuse my french but, shit happens. You're human. There are more important things to worry about. More often than not, I'm able to remind myself of that and live my life.
8.) I'm not afraid to be informed. Example - I became a vegetarian when I watched a slaughter house video when I was 15 and realized what the norm for meat production in the USA was. It was a real eye opener when I tried to tell others what I had found out and they "didn't want to know" because it would "ruin meat for them". What? You'd rather live in the world of denial? I have no problem with people who choose to eat meat, but please, at least educate yourself on where your food is coming from and make a decision after. Same goes for politics. This stuff is important. Living blindly and just trusting that things will work out and be okay is not for me.
9.) I'm family orientated. My family is number one. They always have been. My cousins are my friends. My aunts are my mentors. My brother is my superhero. They have always been such a huge part of my life. Seeing friends who almost never see their parents and dislike their siblings is so alien to me. I hope this is something that I will pass on to my children. Family first, always.
10.) I know I'll be a great mother. I have no doubt in my mind that I can be a mother. I will raise good children - polite, smart, worldly, beautiful children. I want to be involved as much as possible with their lives. I won't take it for granted and I will give them my whole self. I love that I know that already.
Those last few were hard to come up with! What are some of the things you love about yourself? Have you ever listed them out? Give it a shot!
This is such a thoughtful list :)
ReplyDeleteDitto 1,2, & 4
xo -Sara
I've been following your blogs for a long time now and I adore you. I have learned these things about you without even meeting you in real life, they just radiate from you. You're beautiful and this is a beautiful list. xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a great thing to do! Everyone should write one of these :)
ReplyDelete