Dear You,

I spent some time today thinking about our health and the need to have our emotional tank filled. We want to be proud of our accomplishments, but our society has taught us from a very young age that the best is the best, and anything less is not good enough. I have spent the better part of my adult life with this misconception.

I'm not the best writer, mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, or worker. I have counted my accomplishments from placards on the wall, paychecks, publications, and thank yous. I have spent many hours discouraged, because I didn't feel I amounted to what I should. I strove harder, worked harder, slept less, and still find myself behind others. So I stopped, I sat back and I took stock of my accomplishments and I used an actual outside view. I decided to write myself the same letter I would pen a friend if given the chance to tell him or her how proud I was.


Dear Me,

You rock! I am amazed at how much you accomplish is such a short amount of time. I am equally amazed at how springing out of bed at the crack of dawn comes easily to you. You have patience with your children when you would rather lock yourself in a bathroom, turn on the water and pretend the outside world doesn't exist. It is apparent, you are a good parent because your children like you, talk to you, enjoy spending time with you and hug you often. You are a great wife. Trust me on this one. You are. You may argue with your husband and fail to see eye to eye on most things. Do not worry, you are giving God a great comedy show and you are learning day by day to be patient with difficult people. Yourself included.

Lazy? Never. Well at least not as long as there are hours in the day. You work fervently. You pour your heart into your work. You hurt with your clients when they are discouraged and rejoice with them when they accomplish greatness. You will never be blamed for not trying.

Don't let the world berate you for your flaws. You are imperfect. You have shortcomings and you make mistakes and that is okay. Often our greatest weaknesses are also our greatest strengths. Hold your head up and own it. You are a strong willed, stand on your own two feet, companionate, determined, never take "no" for an answer woman.

Love,
Me

It's not easy being kind to yourself. And it certainly isn't easy to find your best qualities. We feel ashamed and embarrassed to point out our strengths. The world will tell you, "You are prideful and self centered." I say, if you can't see the positive in yourself, neither will anyone else. It is when we can be kind to ourselves that we can be kind to others. Your ability to see the positive in the world will come from seeing the positive in yourself. Change your heart and you change your view!

Grab a computer, pen and paper, napkin, chalk board, heck I don't care what you use to get your thoughts out. But write yourself an 'I'm proud of you letter.' And each year re-write it.

It is also important we take a moment to tell others when we are proud of them. A high five goes a long way to encourage others. The next time you see someone really trying hard, let them know you noticed. Take a moment to fill someone else's emotional tank with words of praise. I promise it will make a difference.

Be kind to yourself:

 “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and
he will become as he can and should be.”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I accept myself my self unconditionally right now." Hungry for Change

"I am by nature a dealer of words and words are the most powerful drug known to humanity." Rudyard Kipling