It's how you see yourself that is important
I came across this picture online and just fell in love with it. It put a huge smile on my face and I couldn’t stop smiling for the whole day.
It got me thinking about the way I see myself, and the impact it can have on my mood. Like many others I am my own worst enemy when it comes to being critical of myself. I would never be as hard on someone else, and I often wonder why I am so hard on myself.
Seeing this picture made me realise that I really need to look beyond all of that self-criticism and just live in the moment. Life is so much easier when you stop criticising yourself and beating yourself up for things that you have no control over.
I’ve decided that I will print out the picture and put it at my desk at work, and everyone time I feel like being over self-critical I will look at it and remind myself of what is important in life.
So if you do one thing this week, have a think about how self-critical you are and imagine what your life would be without that little voice telling you that you are worthless and a loser. If that is too much at first- at least give yourself credit for when you do things right.
We all love a little bit of praise, but sometimes the praise with the biggest impact must come from within.
As in the delightful illustration of the old lady in the wheelchair; I believe that we owe it to everyone to help them see themselves in the most positive way possible; and if it takes a ‘trick of the light’ – so be it! Whatever works. Re-enforcement of a good, positive, forward-looking self image is an essential tool to help young, sometimes confused and a little lost, people to make the transition to adulthood. Life for many can be a battering, bruising experience that impacts on their self esteem; we owe it to them to understand that they are not alone with their self-doubts and thoughts of ‘giving up’ – for many who have not received the amount of nurturing they they needed or deserved; the world can appear a daunting place. It is, I feel, essential that people who have found their way further along in the journey of life, should reveal, share and discuss their experiences: good, bad and great with younger people. The youthful years can be a very lonely place and a friendly gesture, an encouraging word can turn a ‘bad day’ into a good day. You don’t have to climb to the apex of the roof to save a young persons’ life – you can begin when you pass them on the street or sit beside them on a bus or train. Just a word of praise is often all it takes. MC