PUT YOURSELF ON YOUR LIST

If I asked you to describe yourself, what would be the first
five things that come to mind? Are they positive things? Are at
least three out of five positive? I hope so. If not, though, it
is good information. It indicates a need for you to make
self-appreciation and self-respect a higher priority.

You've all heard the phrase, "Be your own best friend". How
would you describe your best friend? It is unlikely that you
would have a list of negatives, isn't it? How do you treat your
best friends? With respect, with kindness and understanding,
with compassion, right? Treat yourself the same way.

One of my longtime friends recently told me this story. She said
that, when she approaches a household task that seems risky, she
asks herself, "Would I hire a sixty-seven year old woman to do
that for me?" If the answer is "No", then she hires a younger
person to do the job. If the answer is "Yes", she proceeds. My
dear friend, Helen, is a very wise woman!

If your friend wanted to accomplish something and s/he asked you
for support, would you say, "You don't deserve to have it
anyway!", "You'll never do it." or "Who are you kidding?"?
Probably not, however, you may say things like that to yourself.
What would it take to become your own best friend? What habits
of thought would you have to replace? What self-talk would you
have to change? I remind myself of this important phrase often:
Never say anything about yourself--out loud or in your
head--that you do not want to be true about you. Would you
consider adopting that one for yourself? You'll find that it
quickly improves your self-respect and your self-image.

ALWAYS REMEMBER----WHAT YOU PAY ATTENTION TO EXPANDS!