The first day of December…Let’s make it one of playing to our strengths and rebound right into December in grand style! It dawned on me today that I’ve had a tendency to spend more time dwelling on what I haven’t been 100% at than what I have…and yes, it is effecting me. It is so easy to be our own worst critics – we learn judgment and criticism from a very young age and it is so very tempting to turn that on ourselves all day long. Before you know it, all we are is overweight, underpaid, and very very underappreciated. I know there was a time where that was all I could see – even though I knew stepping out for moments that there was so much more than that to see.
Returning to a place of strength means giving myself the respect that everyone deserves. Sounds simple, right? And yet it is so not simple! We would easily say to someone we respect that we could see struggling to complete a project, “Oh, well, why don’t we find you some help?” and yet it takes moving mountains sometimes to find help for ourselves when we are struggling. Or shall I say…it takes that for ME to find help for myself. Somewhere inside is that small voice that says, “You shouldn’t struggle. You should be able to do this all by yourself. Why aren’t you more capable?” Some people call that voice the Imposter, some the Inner Critic – I just think of that voice as the Meany. I, for one, can be very mean and cruel to myself. Playing to my strengths? Ha! How could I see the forest of strengths when the Meany is fast and sure to point out all the rotting trees in my path first??
I say, use this first day of December to be kind to yourself and work on only seeing the great things about yourself for a change. Not only can it help you rebound faster, further, and better than ever – it is a muscle that needs to be strengthened and flexxed! Who cares that you don’t have everything that everyone else does? Or can do everything that everyone else can? Or take longer to do it than anyone else? WHO REALLY CARES?? Regardless of what they have or do, YOU are worth every bit of respect that you can muster up for yourself and hey, so am I! Sure it will feel uncomfortable to think about…Hello…shouldn’t that be your signal that you don’t do it enough???? Go practice already and tell me how it goes. Tell me your strengths – I want to hear ‘em!
