Acknowledge Yourself

I am writing this post in encouragement of YOU today!

 

You are a WONDER!  You are here for good!

You have a purpose!

 

---

On one of the forms I use with my clients in preparation for a coaching session, there is a statement for them to complete that says, “I acknowledge myself for…”   Almost EVERY SINGLE CLIENT who completes the form for the first time says something like, “That’s an interesting question,” “I don’t know how to answer that,” “I’m not sure what this means.”  Honestly – I’ve played with the idea of changing the question a bit to add clarity, but I actually don’t think it’s an issue with understanding what it really means.  I think it’s simply that we don’t ask our ourselves or get asked this question enough AND we don’t take enough time to celebrate ourselves! 

 

People often say the hardest interview question they get is the one where they are asked about their strengths.  Why is it so hard to acknowledge ourselves?  Is it that we’ve been taught that it’s conceited, self-absorbed, arrogant, snobby….?   Of course we could come across as any of those things if we presented them that way.  But CONFIDENCE is another thing.  Confidence is attractive! 

 

How many of us live with daily feelings of guilt, shame, fear, unworthiness…?  I’m raising my hand.  As a mom and business owner, it’s not uncommon for me to question myself often.  But those feelings don’t make me grow.  They honestly hold me back.  Have you ever heard the saying, “What we focus on, grows”?  I think I’ve shared it (or something similar) in a few posts here on my site.  It makes sense, then, that if all we focus on is those negative feelings, that we are likely to continue to experience more and more of them.  The opposite is true too!  Focus on the things you are proud of, and watch them grow! 

 

What we focus on, grows.

 

This is what I tell my clients in regards to goals as well.  For example, if you want to “break a habit,” focus on what you want to create, rather than what you don’t want.  By simply focusing on what you want, you begin to edge out the undesirable.   Remember- our subconscious creates images and acts in accordance with those.  When you say, “I won’t eat the brownie; I won’t eat the brownie,” what do you think your subconscious focuses on?  An image of a brownie.  It doesn’t pick up on the WON’T.  What about the opposite?  “I’ll eat an apple for snack today.”  Now you’re picturing an apple and there’s less room for the vision of the brownie.

 

So, can you see how focusing on the guilt you feel for not doing X, and the shame you feel for doing Y, and the fear you feel about Z can keep you stuck in those exact patterns even if you desire something different?  Try focusing instead on the things you are proud of.  They’ll crowd out the other visions and you’ll begin to see more growth in your life.  More of the very thing YOU WANT!

 

So, can you see why it’s important to ACKNOWLEDGE,

and even CELEBRATE, YOU?

 

As a Christian, I do believe through our love for others AND ourselves and through the use of our gifts for good, that we can also give glory to God.   So as we focus on what we want, we are better able to grow our gifts and share them with the world.  And in celebrating those gifts within us, we are also showing gratitude to God.

 

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly. Romans 12:6

 

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

 

So, please remember that you are a WONDER and ARE WORTHY of celebrating!  If you find it hard to do so, you likely need it more than ever.   I have been on a journey of recognizing my own worthiness and can say it takes practice, but is one of the highest forms of love that EXTENDS BEYOND YOU!