It Is Time To Like Yourself by Pennie Hunt

Do you like yourself? Most people would flinch at that question. Are we supposed to like ourselves? Should we admit it if we do? Or don’t? The answer often sounds like, “well, I am okay, but…” and then the list of self-depreciating complaints and criticisms about ourselves follows.

Why is it so difficult to like who we are? The negative critiquing can begin in the morning with our first stretch. We may feel an ache or pain caused by age or too much exercise the day before. Then we begin the day disappointed with our bodies.

The first glance in the mirror may make us cringe and upon a closer look, we immediately begin sizing up the flaws. Our hair is too thin or too short and we have too many wrinkles or scars. Stepping on the scale brings the idea that we are too heavy or too thin. Getting dressed reinforces that inadequacy.

Throughout the day we judge ourselves on all the mistakes we make. We say something we shouldn’t have or failed to speak up when we had a great thought. We may not have been as kind to someone as we should have or regretted an action we took.

We might lay in bed at night unable to sleep as we rehash all the self-criticisms because once is not enough… we may as well think all those negative thoughts again before we go to sleep.

We can be our own biggest bully. Negative self-talk works so well because we believe our own voice and thoughts more than we believe anyone else.  

What if we flipped the switch on this? What if we became grateful for this amazing, beautiful body we have been given – no matter what size or shape it is. Our body carries us through all the highs and lows, ups and downs that we experience in life. It is a gift we have been given that we should care for, appreciate, and at the very least – like.

When you wake up and take that morning stretch, be grateful for the bed you had to lay in and how refreshed your mind and body feel. Your first glance in the mirror should be one of appreciation with a smile reflecting back to you. When you look closer into your eyes, you should see the amazing person you are, filled with knowledge, abilities, and talents that belong only to you. The balding spot, the number on the scale, and the way your clothes fit is not a measure of who you are.

The outward body is like the car you drive. It takes you from one place to another, but it is the inner person that the body carries, that is the essence of who you are. Be grateful that you have a body to move in and with. Like your body and appreciate that you have one. Learn to like every part of yourself. Instead of giving yourself negative feedback, go through everything you did well in your day. Instead of laying in bed at night counting all the things you did that were disappointing, begin counting all the wonderful things you did right- no matter how small they were.

Every chance you have, think a good thought about yourself. Be proud of who you are. Make a list of reasons why you like yourself. Like yourself in every way you can think of. If you make a social media post or comment, “like” it. If you can’t give yourself a blue thumbs-up or a heart, why would anyone else? Keep those thumbs-ups and hearts floating through your mind all day.

Soon you will begin liking yourself…really liking yourself. And guess what? When you really like yourself, others will too. That will lead to loving yourself. And when you love yourself, life becomes magical.
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                                                       Pennie’s Life Lesson:
              Once you begin liking yourself, the next step is loving yourself. 
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YOUR TURN...        
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