image courtesy of flickr.com
I love, love, love Gala Darling. Her site is all about radical self-love. My favorite among her posts: 100 Ways You Can Start Loving Yourself Right Now. In it she says:
“Make lists of reasons why you love yourself… & write down (or keep mental lists) of the compliments other people give you. We’re so quick to believe people when they say nasty, unkind or “brutally honest” (ahem, cruel) things to or about us, & we discard all the times we’re told how amazing, beautiful or intelligent we are. Usually this is because our sense of self-doubt is stronger than our self-love. If you can build up the love side of things, this will begin to change.”I used to focus on my flaws, on all the things I’ve ever done wrong. But I much prefer thinking about all the things I love about myself. It makes me feel ever so much better. Taking Darla’s suggestion to heart, I developed my own little list, a list of the reasons I love myself. Every day I add to the list. Here’s ten things to give you an idea of what I wrote.
. Thanks to my Scandinavian heritage, I’ve got fine features and high cheekbones
. My legs are so powerful I could dropkick an elephant down a flight of stairs
. I can read people well enough to know when to shut up, or give them a hug
. I can talk to a perfect stranger and find something interesting about them in under 30 seconds
. I can name that personality disorder in under five minutes
. I’ve finally figured out that I’m the help I’ve been looking for
. I can go from athlete to hot mama in under 20 minutes
. I genuinely view women as my allies and wish them beauty, success, and wealth
. I NEVER get bored
. I can discuss and sit with really uncomfortable topics like money, sex, and death
Sweet Jesus. I had no idea I was this amazing.
What might happen if you started a list of your own? How would it change your view of yourself? Would you walk into the room any differently? Would it change how you operate at the office, or on the dance floor? Start one up. Post it. Send it to your friends me. Why not share your awesomeness with the world?
Ann Sheybani, 49, is a speaker, writer, and coach. She teaches women how to say no, cut the nice-girl crap, and reclaim their power through adventure. Embrace the person you were always meant to be. And watch how you attract better jobs, exciting partners and friends. Ann’s children are 20 and 23; her four stepchildren range in age from 19 to 31. Of this, she says, “Nothing says loving like four teenagers who don’t like each other under one roof…” You can read a longer version of this blog at http://www.annsheybani.com/identity/100-reasons-i-love-myself/