To appreciate the goodness in the world, you first have to appreciate the goodness in yourself. Self criticism is one of the biggest battles each of us faces on a daily basis. We have the tendency to see the worst in ourselves-- from criticizing our bodies and our words to the situations that we place ourselves in… it's easy to beat ourselves up. |
Once, when I was facing a difficult time, my dad called one morning and asked me, "Have you smiled at yourself today?" I was perplexed. I had just waken up and hadn't even left my apartment yet. "No, I just woke up," I replied.
"Go and find a mirror. Look at yourself. And smile for 10 seconds straight," my dad directed. "I'll wait."
Begrudgingly, I trudged to the bathroom and smiled at my reflection. "Are you smiling?" my dad asked.
"Yes," I responded. "This is stupid."
"Isn't this fun?" my dad asked. "Smile another 10 for good measure!"
I giggled. It was a silly idea, but after a while, smiling at myself really did make me feel genuinely happy. It was just as if another person were smiling at me and wishing me well. My dad encouraged me to do this every morning to start the day off on the right foot. Even now, when I wake up 'on the wrong side of the bed,' so to speak, I make an effort to smile at myself in the mirror.
It was only recently that I realized we should treat ourselves even better. Why stop with a smile? Each day, at least once, we should take a moment to thank ourselves for something.
Are you having a particularly good hair day? Do your eyes have unique flecks of yellow in them? Are you thankful for your strong legs that allow you to go about your business each day? Did you do something productive the day before that you'd like to thank your brain for? Whatever it is, take a moment to-- out loud-- thank yourself.
You'd be surprised at what an impact it makes. When someone else offers you a compliment, it raises your spirits. When you compliment yourself, it improves your self-worth, helping you remember to be kind to yourself and all the wonderful things your body, mind and spirit allow you to do each day.
Armed with that self-appreciation, you can take on the world. And you can conquer the day with kindness!