Self Appreciation

Consider how much time we spend thinking about the things we feel we need to make our lives better?  Then think about how much time we spend showing ourselves appreciation for all of the things we already have?  But before answering both contemplate the fact that for the most part our most basic and yet most needs are already met (shelter, food, water, connection etc.)

We always seem to come in second when we compare our life to everyone else’s, holding the idea that they have something we think we want therefore we now need it too.  

Creating a new mindset by appreciating ourselves first we are learning how to be our Number One Fan and it is a more effective way to learn the art of aligning to our higher self.  Once we have taken the time to reflect over our life and integrate a repetition of acknowledging all that we have accomplished-who we have become-and recognizing what it is that we already have, we can learn to integrate the totality of what it means to implement our own personal language of self-value.

The time we always spend on the path of wanting more uses up precious time and that is something we all have come to learn is fleeting. 

We can alter the saying “Stop and smell the roses” to mean more to us personally by simply changing one little word. By doing so we energetically commit to looking at our life from a new perspective; our wins and challenges have made us who we are today and to be more in love with who we are we must make it a habit of showing appreciation from the inside out.  Simply put, instead of “Stop and smell ‘the’ roses”  change it to “Stop and smell ‘my’ roses” and be ready to feel the change.

The other day a friend of mine who has a very comfortable life and can pretty much have anything she wants outside of the ‘needs’ is in a brain loop of dealing with a particular issue, like losing weight, which she  considers too ‘hard’ to accomplish.

Mind you, this woman has always been weight conscious her entire life and was as big as a twig.  Now due to having to take a particular medication that can cause weight gain she is leaning into this challenge of losing the extra pounds by “It’s just too hard!  The medication said this is a side-effect and if they said this it must be true therefore it’s just too hard.”

And so one little word is keeping her hostage and is nothing more than a huge barrier of defeat allowing the walls around her to keep tumbling down.  This loop she is stuck in is one that is keeping her from appreciating and seeing all of the wonderful things she has done to create a pretty cool life. 

You get what I’m saying? One little word, and this one is “hard” and her days are going to hell in a handbag.

However, if she took some time to sit and write about the story of her life her life I’m pretty sure there would be loads of Atta-girl and loads of appreciation for her part in creating a lovely, abundant-filled life and come to terms with just by using a slight of hand (with pen to paper).

We can take some action by going outside and spend time appreciating the blue sky, lovely flowers, birds chirping, adorable dogs jumping and playing but unless we appreciate who we are down to a cellular level this momentary act of having our eyes wide open pails in comparison to having a love and appreciation of who we are always alive and well on the inside.

What is appreciation and why is it important? For one it can make someone feel pretty good.  Here’s what I found on Google and in Websters Dictionary…

Google says: Appreciation is the act of giving something or someone their proper value, and everybody has value. The value in a relationship is important because it lets a person know where they stand, and what they mean to you; appreciation is a way of letting that person know what you value.

Websters Dictionary says:  a feeling or expression of admiration, approval, or gratitude. I want to express my appreciation for all you've done; a small token of our appreciation.

So to me is there something missing here?  How about not always being the giver but to be the recipient by practicing and learning how to appreciate oneself?   

This is a fun exercise and one I did for myself a few months back.  I wanted to become even more enlightened with who I am and how I got “here”.  The results?  I was truly amazed, yes amazed as to how much I have accomplished and how proud I am of me every day!

·      Put aside some time just for yourself to be quiet and reflect.

·      In a journal book or a decent size piece of paper start listing your first memories and keep writing/listing until you have arrived to today.

·      Ideas to get you started: List jobs, activities in school, falling in love, being a star athlete, any accomplishments (don’t judge them but think about how the memory of them still makes you happy even today), family, buying your first house, children, heartbreak, running a marathon, lifes challenges, paying off a loan, etc. 

Once you have come to terms with the fact that you are somebody and a somebody to be fully appreciated by you then the idea of leaning in to appreciate other things around you can be expressed with more heart and sincerity and longevity.

To your blessings unfolding,

PS.

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did! Please share your thoughts in the comments below.