In order to learn how to relieve ourselves of self-defeating patterns, the obvious first step is to become aware of what these patterns are.
The easiest way to do this is simply to become a casual observer of your own behavior and to take stock of how you treat yourself. Note both the negative and the positive aspects.
Don't make a big chore of this. Simply intend to "hear" what you tell yourself as you go about your business. Notice how you "look" at yourself. Do you ever smile at yourself in the mirror? Do you ever greet yourself as someone you're glad to see?
After you've monitored yourself for a day or two, ask yourself which one of these categories you fall into.
1) You always look at yourself with a hypercritical eye and you often mentally refer to yourself as stupid, lazy, clumsy, ugly, gross, or other demeaning terms.
You constantly require outside validation in order to feel even halfway decent about yourself.
2) You maintain a "neutral" approach to your own person, hardly even noticing anything in particular about yourself. You just take yourself, your appearance, and your performance for granted.
It's almost as if you were a non-entity whose job it is to just keep showing up, but you certainly don't take any real pleasure in your own company. You base your worth primarily on how others react to you.
3) You make a point of it to treat yourself with the utmost respect. You speak to yourself in only the most courteous and encouraging tones. You actively note and register appreciation for your most likeable qualities and you enjoy your own company. You maintain this outlook despite what others' opinions of you may be. After all, it is your opinion and validation that matter to you most.
Clearly, this last option is what we are striving for. Contrary to what some may think, this is not vanity or egotism. It is self-affirmation. It is creating a friendly "alliance" with someone who will be with you the rest of your days.
Other people come and go, and among the ones who stay, they are primarily focused on their own lives.
It is no one's responsibility but your own to validate your existence. You are the only one who can provide yourself with the constant, abiding, unconditional acceptance that we all crave.
~ Tips for Improvement ~
Tip #1 - Every time you look in the mirror, look yourself in the eye. Stay there, don't look away. (Some people have trouble doing even this much.) Now, smile at yourself with just your eyes, nothing phony.
Acknowledge the face in the glass as a dear friend, whose opinion you admire, whose support you feel privileged to have. THIS is the person you most want on your side. Not the big "they" out there, as in "What will 'they' think?" It is now: "What do YOU think, my dear friend in the looking glass?"
Tip #2 - Immediately drop any negative, hateful or belittling remarks to yourself. This includes any unspoken comments.
For example, do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and groan? I'm sorry, but I must tell you that this is just plain rude! How do you think you would react if someone else did that to you? Wouldn't you be insulted and hurt and just a little appalled at that person's bad manners?
And would it ever occur to you to treat one of your friends that way? You wouldn't do it! You would realize how unkind and tactless such a reaction would be. You would probably look at your friend with compassionate concern. You might wonder if he is sick or if he's been getting enough rest, but you certainly wouldn't look at him and say, "Ugh!"
So why is it that people let themselves get away with treating themselves so shabbily?
Perhaps no one has ever pointed this out to you before. Or maybe you have never given yourself permission to treat yourself gently before.
Now that you've been made aware of this, I trust you will find it easy and highly desirable to make these simple changes. And these two changes alone will result in some profound internal shifts.
So the new order of the day is this: If it's not something that you would say or do to a cherished friend, then you do not say or do it to yourself, period.
I hope that you will give these techniques a serious workout. Your emotional well-being is well worth the effort. It is the foundation upon which all else is built.
Rosella Aranda, international marketer, editor and author, helps entrepreneurs escape their limitations and enjoy greater freedom and satisfaction. Sign up for her free mini-course at http://www.sabotagethyselfnomore.com/ Kind encouragement at http://www.sabotagethyselfnomore.com/
no-contract cleaning service Mundelein ..Clear Conflict with Forgiveness:Forgiveness is the means to solve all... Read More
Recently, a lady came to see me and she had... Read More
HOW YOUR OUTLOOK INFLUENCES HEALTH AND ABILITY TO CONTROL ANGERJane... Read More
Satisfaction 100% guaranteed or your money back! That was the... Read More
Distortions are False Beliefs Programmed every Day by Self and... Read More
I had a completely different idea for my main article... Read More
Does the thought of failure send a cold shiver down... Read More
This is the age of the Quick Fix - the... Read More
Ten tips to transform your move into a creative life... Read More
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.... Read More
Ever had a problem with doubts? Ever felt that nagging... Read More
Unhappy moods can be like comfortable sweaters, those old ones:... Read More
When you're feeling "low," or out of the flow, it's... Read More
The other day one of my "challenging clients" and I... Read More
Many of you may look at my title and wonder... Read More
Using an opponent's force against them is the fundamental teaching... Read More
You wake up in the morning sleepy and fatigued; the... Read More
There are always explanations for why things to you or... Read More
I just heard the story of a man who hired... Read More
The only constant is change. If theres one thing we... Read More
Our thoughts define who we are. They can make us... Read More
Unhappy? Stressed out? Do you feel you not only want... Read More
There was someone I used to work with who, well... Read More
"In life, if you give yourself a concession, you'd take... Read More
I woke up this morning feeling sour.No. That's an understatement.... Read More
maid service near Glenview ..Have you ever read that you should think positively when... Read More
"Most overnight successes are just plain lucky. Just ask any... Read More
I encountered several interesting people that really taught me something.... Read More
So, do you love yourself?Shouldn't really be a difficult question... Read More
Several years, I was listening to a radio talk show... Read More
What's my life all about is the question so many... Read More
No matter how positive a person we are overall, there... Read More
Ten tips to transform your move into a creative life... Read More
Humans tend to categorize things by large or small, bright... Read More
A balanced life not only leaves you feeling more fulfilled;... Read More
"If I have the belief that I can do it,... Read More
With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought it would be especially appropriate... Read More
This is a technique that sounds a bit silly when... Read More
Few people are aware of the thoughts that pass through... Read More
What is a paradigm? In my own words, a paradigm... Read More
Often when radical change occurs in our lives we feel... Read More
If you work toward what you dream, the dream can... Read More
Every emotion, wether we classify it as good or bad,... Read More
The summer I was 20 years old, I worked as... Read More
For most of us our lives are a problem which... Read More
The other evening, I was meticulously assembling and painting one... Read More
You don't need to a piece of paper to prove... Read More
WhenWhen we have feelings for someone or something, we have... Read More
Q: I seem to beat myself before I ever get... Read More
"In life, if you give yourself a concession, you'd take... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |