Somewhere on ye internets, a few years ago, I read a great post, by, you know, someone. You’ll be astonished to hear I couldn’t track it down, even with such detailed information.
Anyway, it basically said too many people spend too much time running themselves down or refusing to realise how awesome they are.
What this blogger suggested (if you find her, let me know!) was that we should all write down a list of why we’re awesome and share it. We need the practice!
I linked to it on Facebook and started the ball rolling by saying how amazing I was. I invited people to add to the post with their own list of why they were awesome.
Unfortunately (well, it was fabulous, actually) lots of people got the wrong end of the stick and told me how greatĀ I was. Shucks, guys!
So, let me be clear. This is what I want you to do.
- Read my list of how brilliant and amazing I am.
- Write your own list of how brilliant and amazing YOU ARE. Five items, minimum, all beginning with the words ‘I am brilliant andĀ amazing.’
- No item is allowed to be self-deprecating or a back-handed put-down. Genuine self-compliments are what we’re after.
- Write your list below, in a comment, or elsewhere, and link to it in a comment.
- Feel free to add to anyone else’s, and be as affirming and encouraging as you like. But ONLY IF you’ve shared your own list first.
- Tell your friends about this. You could share this post (there are some handy buttons below), or start the ball rolling on your own Facebook page or do it in your book group or whatever.
I have a wonderful friend – one of the people I admire most in the world – whom I’ve been practising this with. She is a treasure, but she’s not in the habit of remembering that. Every time she tries to deflect a compliment I fine her five bucks. Virtual cash so far, as I’d be putting her family on the street otherwise. If other friends would sign up to this scheme, I could make my first million by Christmas.
We need this, friends! We need to stop apologising for not having houses that look like Pinterest. We need to be proud of the hard work we put into making this world better, one nappy or spreadsheet or essay or bridge or painting or website or friend or cup of tea or child at a time.
Life is hard, for most of us. Good, but hard. We need to be kinder to ourselves. Start now.
- I am brilliant and amazing. I’m writing a blog that quite a few people like to read, and I post most days.
- I am brilliant and amazing. I have changed my diet fairly radically to give my baby a good start given family medical history.
- I am brilliant andĀ amazing. I just started playing the piano again after twenty years and today I did my first 45-second performance to my Mum.
- I am brilliant andĀ amazing. I make a really delicious tagine.
- I am brilliant andĀ amazing. I work hard to be kind to people, and succeed most of the time.
- I am brilliant and amazing. I have a great marriage because I (and we, of course) work hard at it.
I tell you, IāmĀ everywhere these days. Follow me on Facebook for daily links, resources and Sacraparentalish tidbits, on Pinterest for link-plantations (especially this Be Kind To Yourself one) and on Twitter for ranting.
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