Affirmation Nation – A Mantra For All

So many of us are desperately trying to live up to this false image that we project of ourselves. The person that we think other people want us to be.

Instead of learning to love the person that we are.

We need to start embracing all our finer points and talking ourselves up every day.

Looking in the mirror and acknowledging all the good and positive things that we are:

What I am

I am lovable, capable and a unique human being

I am already worthy as a person, I don’t have to prove myself

I deserve the respect of others, I easily accept compliments and praise from others

What I am learning

I am learning to forgive myself and others

I am learning the more I love myself, the more I am able to love others

I am learning that it is not necessary for me to be liked or accepted by every important person in my life, for everything I do.

I AM GOOD ENOUGH

Why is it that the only things about ourselves that we truly value are those things that relate to other people? Kindness, helpfulness, empathy?

The approval of others is pleasant but not essential. In order to live life fully, we need to express ourselves, which means that at times we will do things of which others disapprove.

If we are constantly trying to avoid disapproval, we will either become passive individuals or people with a poor sense of self.

If, despite our efforts, we are disapproved of, the result can be devastating, because our self-esteem is based on what others think of us.

By trying to please everyone all the time, we paint ourselves into a corner as a non-person. Someone whose feelings don’t matter. Who will bend over backwards to avoid hurting another person and yet will allow that same person to inflict grievous wounds upon our own psyche without a challenge.

We need to recognise the things that are good about ourselves, traits that are unique to us, rather than being appealing to others. Courage and intelligence for a start.

And, more than anything, we need to learn to accept a compliment with a thank you and embrace it.

Not allow it to bounce off the positive jar into the abyss, whilst hoarding any negative critiques and regularly beating ourselves over the head with them.

Try chanting the mantra and listing all your positive qualities.

At a time when many of us are taking stock and resolving to do things differently, how about making 2010 the year when you learn to love the wo/man in the mirror.