I am willing to bet that most of us spend a lot more time focusing on what we are not than appreciating who we are. We live in everything we lack and then feel bad when there is actually a lot to celebrate, when we take the time to recognize it.
It is partly a by-product of our time: We are constantly inundated with images and stories that tell everyone else's life, when they are really just highlight roles. They are the filtered, photoshopped version of life as chaotic and imperfect as ours.
And regardless of where they pose, what they wear or what they do there, all these people, they are just like you and me. They are sometimes confident, sometimes insecure, and often need to be reminded that they are worth loving and doing better than they think they are.
So if you are a perfectionist like me or you are just hard on yourself at times, sit back, relax and consider all of these reasons amazing and appreciative.
Your strength
1. You survived every challenge life presented you, and there have been a lot.
2. You did your best in every situation, depending on where you were at that point in your life, where you came from and what resources were available to you.
3. You recognized weaknesses and worked on them – maybe not always and maybe not without resistance. But you've progressed countless times than it would have been easier to stay where you were.
4. You got up again after a failure and a rejection. You could have given up when you were fired or died for the job or said, "It's not you, it's me …" but you licked your wounds, got through and went back to bed instead] ]
5. You are forgiven, the ultimate test of your own strength. You may not be ready to forgive anyone who hurt you, but you've done it before even though it was hard.
6. You apologized. It's not always easy to admit mistakes, but you made it. You've owned your part, recognized the pain caused, and vowed to do better in the future.
7. You have tried things outside of your comfort zone, whether you take a new job overseas or say hello when you would have preferred to stare at your feet.
8. At some point you are afraid. It may have seemed small to you, but every time you do something that scares you, it's huge!
9. You have adapted to change, often without having chosen it, and have grown through experience.
10. You have solved problems that could have crippled you and helped other people with their problems while you were grappling with your own.
Your goodness
11. You have good intentions. You may think that you are doing the wrong things sometimes, but your heart is generally in the right place.
12. You have made someone feel valued, and perhaps many others, by acknowledging their efforts and thanking them for what they did.
13. You made someone's day, probably without even realizing it, by listening, understanding, or simply being thoughtful and kind.
14. You make people laugh – maybe even at your laugh, because you cackle or snort or sound like Beavis. (Too young for the reference? Google it!)
15. You take care of the people you love. When you say you care, you mean business and support it with actions.
16. You smile at people. It may seem insignificant, but your smile was probably someone's beacon on a dark, scary day.
17. You remember the important things – or at least some of them. That "Happy Birthday" card or call or text? It was a simple recognition that helped someone feel valued and loved.
18. You ask people how they are. You may not always get an honest answer, but you are ready to receive it.
19. You treat people the way you would often like to be treated. Sometimes you slip – you're only human after all! But you do your best to be a decent person who treats other people with respect.
20. You gave a second chance when you knew someone really needed it.
Your Du-ness
21. You have many positive qualities, whether you realize it or not. Maybe you are adventurous or brave or creative or reliable – or all of the above. You could probably go through the whole alphabet and list 26 amazing properties for each letter you own. (Or at least twenty-five – X is hard!)
22. You are passionately interested in something, be it your work, a hobby, a future dream, or your family, and that passion is both admirable and contagious.
23. You have unique quirks that make you interesting, lovable, and entertaining. Maybe you have a passion for steampunk, talk to your plants, or collect something weird like umbrella covers.
24. You have eclectic tastes and have probably introduced many things to other people that they want to enjoy – bands, movies, books, restaurants, the list goes on and on.
25. You are beautifully chaotic, like all human beings, and your feelings give you empathy, depth and many other gifts that you may not even recognize.
26. You are creative in your own way – everyone is! Maybe you bake or write or make cool things out of wine corks or scrabble pieces or stones.
27. You have your own kind of smarts – book smarts, street smarts, emotional intelligence, maybe all three.
28. You have a voice that has reassured someone, even if it sounds like Sofia Vergara's, simply because it is yours.
29. You are physically a work of art. Seriously. Our culture has long promoted a unified definition of beauty (although fortunately that seems to be changing), but beauty resides in every unique combination of body and facial features. Big noses, asymmetrical eyes, crooked smiles – every single one of them, beautiful!
30. You are spiritually fascinating. Just think about all the fancy, complex, crazy thoughts that go through your head every day.
Your journey
31. You have gained a variety of experiences which have given you insight and a unique perspective. Nobody else sees the world like you do!
32. You have been healed and grown through all your ups and downs and are getting stronger and wiser every day.
33. You have done some interesting things in your time. If our life really flashes before our eyes before we die, your life definitely won't be boring!
34. You have learned what matters to you over the years and you have tried your best to honor those things.
35. You started from scratch when it was difficult, whether it was a new direction, a new job, a new place or a new relationship.
36. You have found and / or created opportunities for yourself, and possibly in areas that are not easy to penetrate.
37. You have grown up: You have fed yourself, washed your clothes, cleaned your house, paid your bills and done countless other responsible things – often when you would have preferred to lie under one blanket and have cereal out of one oversized bowl to eat.
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38. You have built up a treasure chest of amazing memories over the years and you recognize them for the gold they are.
39. You are the co-star in many other people's favorite memories.
40. You made it where you are right now. And here you are, strong, kind, unique and worth celebrating.
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So there you have it, all of the reasons you are absolutely amazing, every last one of you. Do you have anything to add to the list?
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