Appreicate - ' to recognise the full worth of', 'to be grateful for'... yes, this is a hard one to own isn't it? Be honest .... we're all well used to appreciating others for all sorts of things....their beauty, their talents, skills, intelligence, wealth, career, sucess, families...their hair even....handbags, shoes, cars, houses, furniture,...generally everything and anything about their lives we might appreciate and believe we recognise the full worth of....but not ourselves eh!
How many of you believe you recognise your own full worth? What did you feel grateful for today?.....I know it's not easy but it's so so important to get this one in perspective. The root to so much discontent, anxiety and general unhappiness is because of our unwillingness or inability to appreciate ourselves and our own lives.
We spend so much time and energy focused on what we feel bad about within ourselves, what we dislike about ourselves, what we believe others dislike in us....that we are our own worst friend.
What sort of a message do you think it gives our children and those around us if we don't even know our own worth and treat ourselves with due respect and care? My guess is it gives others permission to mistreat us, to under value us and to project onto us a lot of ugly stuff that isn't ours to own.
It also teaches those who are looking to us for leadership, that maybe they shouldn't appreciate themselves either.....that it's ok to sell ourselves cheaply.....I think we all know where that leads and it's not good.
No, we must try to appreciate ourselves, know our full worth and be grateful for who we are, and for the gift of life that we have. Help others by reminding them of their worth too! Especially our children. It's a gift that keeps giving, generation after generation. Knowing we have worth is essential to our self esteem....we all need to know we're loved and valuable and we need others to tell us!
Be humble yes, and remember there is always someone worse off than us..... but we don't do anyone any favours by bringing ourselves down to level out the competition just because it's more comfortable for them that way.
No! I say shine bright as you can.....be proud of yourself, accept your vulnerable, falible humanity and be grateful for each new oppportunity to make a new start. Love the life you have.....and if you don't, change it!
Here's a quote from Marianne Williamson that inspired me many years ago. I don't believe I have had my brightest hour yet....but we are all a work in progress!
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Some more wise words you may find helpful.....
http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Reasons-to-Love-and-Appreciate-Yourself/1
How to talk to your daughter about her body - article
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