“Give yourself praise.”
Why do we find it so hard to praise ourselves when we achieve something? It doesn’t seem to matter whether our accomplishments are small or sensational. Giving ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done, can be the emotional equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest!
Perhaps you were trained to be modest; perhaps, you were told you were hopeless and didn’t learn to believe in yourself. Perhaps your past achievements were simply ignored by parents, peers or mentors. Or, maybe you’ve simply given up on expecting accolades.
We often freely praise others for their achievements yet withhold it from ourselves. But self-praise is important – more important than praise from others. Others are not always dependable. But, you can always count on yourself.
Today, begin your journey of self-commendation. Praise yourself for each achievement, however insignificant you may think it is. Watch yourself achieving as you go about your day. And give yourself a pat on the back – you deserve it!
©Jane Powell
Why do we find it so hard to praise ourselves when we achieve something? It doesn’t seem to matter whether our accomplishments are small or sensational. Giving ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done, can be the emotional equivalent of climbing Mt. Everest!
Perhaps you were trained to be modest; perhaps, you were told you were hopeless and didn’t learn to believe in yourself. Perhaps your past achievements were simply ignored by parents, peers or mentors. Or, maybe you’ve simply given up on expecting accolades.
We often freely praise others for their achievements yet withhold it from ourselves. But self-praise is important – more important than praise from others. Others are not always dependable. But, you can always count on yourself.
Today, begin your journey of self-commendation. Praise yourself for each achievement, however insignificant you may think it is. Watch yourself achieving as you go about your day. And give yourself a pat on the back – you deserve it!
©Jane Powell
GOING FOR IT
Columnist Dave Barry says this about his father: "My dad ... he'd try anything -- carpentry, electrical wiring, plumbing, roofing. From watching him, I learned a lesson that still applies to my life today: No matter how difficult a task may seem, if you're not afraid to try it, you can do it. And when you're done, it will leak."
I'm the King of Leaks. But at least his father tried. There's something to be said for taking a risk and going for it. I am convinced that one of the great necessities of life is courage.
We've heard it said, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." But the motto of some of us is more like "Nothing ventured, nothing lost." How often are we so afraid to try to do something new or to go in a new direction that we never venture beyond the familiar? "Better to be safe than sorry" has trapped too many unhappy people in a cocoon of their comfort zones.
What would you be doing with your life today if you had more courage yesterday? Where could you be tomorrow if you decide to take a reasonable risk today?
Humorist J. Upton Dickson once said he wanted to start a society called the "Dependent Order of Really Meek and Timid Souls." When you make an acrostic of the first letters of its name, you have the word "Doormats." According to Dickson, the Doormats could have an official insignia -- a yellow caution light. Their official motto might be: "The meek shall inherit the earth, if that's okay with everybody."
Fear. Is there anything so crippling to the spirit as fear? How might things be different if we acted with just a little more courage? After all, who doesn't feel fear? But the truth is that courage is not fearlessness; courage is deciding to act anyway.
Over the years I've enjoyed letters from some of our Life Support System family all around the world. One such friend wrote to me in response to an article and said, "I always say that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly! That way nothing scares me off. Try most anything." Once she was able to let go of the outcome and decided not to care about whether she succeeded or failed, she found the courage to jump in and try.
U.S.A. essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said it like this: "Do not be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."
Boldness is not the same as carelessness. And I have made plenty of mistakes in life. But I am quite sure that my bitterest memories come because I was afraid to act. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like today if I had been a little bolder, a little more daring, when opportunities showed themselves.
This last part of my life I will err on the side of boldness. And if I overstep, I can at least rest assured that I didn't squander whatever gifts I have because I was afraid to venture into the unknown.
Steve Goodier
Reason to keep going
Just because life has let you down doesn’t mean that you must let yourself down. Pick yourself up, quickly take a positive step, and know that you’re closer to reaching your goal than you’ve ever been before.
You’ve been through some of the hard part and already experienced some of the difficulty you must go through. So keep going, and make that experience count.
Change your approach if that’s what is called for. Learn from where you’ve been, adapt and adjust your efforts to be even more effective.
Every day, every encounter, and every outcome is a new opportunity to move yourself forward. Keep yourself focused on the goal you’ve chosen, and keep yourself moving in the best way you know how.
The disappointments are just as much a part of the process as the victories. Be truly thankful for it all, and in your gratitude you’ll find a way to put it all to positive use.
Whatever has happened is a perfect reason to keep going. Keep going, and create the life you have chosen to live.
Ralph Marston
Just because life has let you down doesn’t mean that you must let yourself down. Pick yourself up, quickly take a positive step, and know that you’re closer to reaching your goal than you’ve ever been before.
You’ve been through some of the hard part and already experienced some of the difficulty you must go through. So keep going, and make that experience count.
Change your approach if that’s what is called for. Learn from where you’ve been, adapt and adjust your efforts to be even more effective.
Every day, every encounter, and every outcome is a new opportunity to move yourself forward. Keep yourself focused on the goal you’ve chosen, and keep yourself moving in the best way you know how.
The disappointments are just as much a part of the process as the victories. Be truly thankful for it all, and in your gratitude you’ll find a way to put it all to positive use.
Whatever has happened is a perfect reason to keep going. Keep going, and create the life you have chosen to live.
Ralph Marston
Sujata
