If my cup is full then…

If my cup is overflowing, if I am full, if I am already complete then…

I do not need to ask anyone for a ‘top up’,
I do not need to ask for acceptance if I accept myself,
I do not need anyone to tell me that I’m okay, if I already trust that I am.

If my cup is overflowing, if I love and accept myself, exactly as I am, with all my flaws and imperfections, with all my good qualities, with all my mistakes, with all my triumphs then…

I free myself,
I free myself from self-criticism and hate,
I free myself from guilt,
I free myself from shame.

If my cup is overflowing, if I am so full of love for myself, then…

I have more than enough love to share,
I can be generous and not stash love like a squirrel,
I can trust that there will always be more, that life is abundant,
I can give and receive love freely.

If my cup is overflowing, and I feel truly happy then…

I can share my happiness with all those around me,
I can be like a ray of sunshine on a cold winters day,
I can light up a room, and warm a lonely day,
I can be radiant.

May my cup be overflowing, may I be a gift to this world and to myself.

Thank you Universe.

List 10 things that are great about you

Sometimes I hear people say how ‘no good’ they are or how ‘useless’ they are and it makes me feel so sad.

Every one has value and it’s a real shame that no-one has told them that.  Or they haven’t been told enough.

I think it was Mother Theresa that said: “There is more hunger for love and appreciation today, than there is for food”.

So with that in mind…

If you are inclined…

Why not write yourself a list of 10 things about you that are GREAT.  If no-one is cheering for you in your corner, then be your own cheerleader.  Love is one of the most important things in life and it starts with yourself.

So please take a moment to appreciate the person that you are.  Starting from now!

Want to read my list (to get some inspiration)?  Okay.

1. When I smile at a stranger I know it cheers them up.
2. I’m good at encouraging people.
3. I admit when I’m wrong.
4. I can keep a secret.
5. I’ve grown from my mistakes.
6. I have raised a wonderful daughter.
7. Although my life hasn’t been particularly easy, I’ve never given up.
8. I’m an optimist.
9. I’m friendly.
10. I have nice eyes

I’m not being big headed.  It is okay to appreciate yourself.  When you have love for yourself it’s so much easier to have love for others.  What are 10 great things about you?

Do you have ugly duckling syndrome?

Do you have ugly duckling syndrome?

Often the perceptions we form about ourselves, are taken from the people we have around us.  Commonly, our main perceptions about ourself are formed in early childhood.

If you are lucky enough to be surrounded by well-adjusted, supportive, loving people, you will most likely form a good perception of yourself.  Conversely, if the people around you are not quite so loving or kind, your self-perception may be clouded by thoughts of low self-worth and value.

Han’s Christian Anderson’s story of the ugly duckling is illustrative of this point.  The young bird was in fact a swan, soon to grow into the most magnificent creature yet the other birds around him were not able to see his potential and told him instead that he was an ugly duckling.

And so the poor “ugly duckling” walked around with his head down, feeling unhappy until the day he met some other swans who were able to recognise his true beauty.

One of the most famous women of our time, Marilyn Monroe, suffered from this syndrome.   Although one of the most adored and desired women of her time, her self perception was an entirely different picture and she was known to struggle with issues of self esteem for years.

Self-esteem, self-worth, self-value is an internal state, existing only within our own minds.  It is true that we may have arrived at perceptions of ourself, from the words and actions of another, but it is us that keeps the sound-track playing, long after the event has happened.

Our minds are very good at repeating certain thoughts.  But thoughts are not necessarily true.  And you don’t have to believe them.

It does take time and a small amount of effort (awareness) to detach from your thoughts.  It does take time and a small amount of effort, to stop buying into them and believing them.  This is true.  But the time and effort are well worth the rewards, when you finally free yourself from your own self-defeating self-talk.

It is indeed, an entirely new way of understanding your thoughts but if you have reached a point where you are fed up with the way your life has been going, then maybe it is time to consider trying something different.  For if you keep catching the same train, you will keep arriving at the same destination, so why not try another train?