Have an Attitude of Gratitude!

I just realized something the other day. I have come to think of myself in a very derogative way. I am constantly putting myself down, thinking in descriptive words like fat, slow, clumsy, sad, tired, ugly, lonely, alone, sore, stiff, old…. I have forgotten to celebrate all of the wonderful things that make me special.

It’s so easy for us to abuse ourselves. We have a lot of years of practice. But if you are what you think, isn’t it important to think good things? There are so many wonderful things about you and I. I was an amazing person before I gained this weight. I still am. You are too. Shouldn’t we take time to recognize and appreciate the very things that make us who we are?

Have you ever heard the expression, "She doesn’t take very good care of herself"? Does that describe you? What kind of an image does that bring into your mind? Now what about these… "She doesn’t take very good care of her baby daughter" or "He doesn’t take very good care of his dog" or "They don’t take very good care of each other".

What kinds of images do those statements bring to your mind. When you think of not taking care of your child, why would you not feel the same way about yourself. Treating yourself badly is abuse that you inflict on yourself day after day. you become what you think, and other people will treat you the way you treat yourself often. What if good healthy eating and exercise wasn’t a punishment, but a gift that you give yourself every day? what if you told yourself good things every day? I mean, would you tell your daughter she was fat and ugly every day of life?

I think we need to first love ourselves the way we want others to love us. The way we love and care for our children, our pets, and our most valuable possessions. I love my children so very much. I am proud of them, and I see their imperfections, but I love those too because their imperfections are perfectly meant to be there, delivered to them by God (the universe or whatever your belief is). If they were perfect then life would have no purpose or meaning for them.

It is time to treat yourself well. Learn to love yourself, and ‘take care of’ yourself. Learn to adore those love handles as perfect imperfections. Learn to love a fresh garden tomato, or a sprig of asparagus or that live fresh salad of sprouts and peppers as a gift that you are giving the body you love. Nourish your body with good things, and nourish your soul with love.

It is also important to be thankful for all of the good in our lives. If you have appreciation for all of the blessings in your life, then you leave little room for the stuff that isn’t perfect. Cultivating gratitude also brings a feeling of peace and well-being, and it opens your heart and body for receiving and giving love. Love is an emotion which nurtures, and heals, and will put you in the right frame of mind to look after yourself.

I have a coach that I admire and respect very much. She asked me to do an exercise. It is an exercise of "I" statements. A list of 100 statements about me, starting with ‘I’. Statements that express all of the wonderful things about who I am as a person. Statements that have no judgement. Statements that describe the good things about me. Here’s mine… I am going to encourage you to do the same thing.

I AM:

1. fun
2. happy
3. outgoing
4. nurturing
5. smart
6. caring
7. sexy
8. pretty
9. alert
10. nice
11. loving
12. lovable
13. interesting
14. business minded
15. intelligent
16. amazing
17. thin inside
18. a wonderful mother
19. a faithful and loving wife
20. loyal
21. strong
22. kind
23. excited
24. exciting
25. motivational
26. inspirational
27. a good friend
28. an animal lover
29. a good swimmer
30. well read
31. dependable
32. punctual
33. reliable
34. a good cook
35. an adoring daughter
36. classy
37. persistent
38. assertive
39. attentive
40. a good writer
41. a great web designer
42. an entrepreneur
43. creative
44. joyfilled
45. grateful
46. soft
47. solid
48. happily married
49. empathetic
50. sympathetic
51. nature lover
52. becoming healthy
53. astute
54. knowledgable
55. intuitive
56. mild
57. spicy
58. dancing inside
59. glamorous
60. sassy
61. a diva
62. comfortable
63. warm
64. beautiful
65. vivacious
66. curvy
67. stunning
68. attractive
69. noticeable
70. naughty

I HAVE

1.  nice eyes
2. a great attitude
3. a wonderful family
4. nice legs
5. creative talent
6. ability to learn fast
7. a home we designed ourselves
8. pride
9. gratitude
10. appeal
11. good taste
12. flair
13. style
14. abundance
15. charity
16. consideration of others
17. good observation skills
18. good people skills
19. style
20. rhythm
21. a nice tan :-)
22. smooth skin
23. a bubbly laugh
24. cats that I love
25. an appreciation of nature
26. friends who love me
27. nice curly hair
28. appreciation
29. appetite
30. A love for myself

So I ran out of "IAM’s" and added some I HAVE’S which I think are just as good. Try it yourself and see if you don’t finish up feeling really good about yourself and the people you love!

Many Blessings,

Shelley