Creating Your Awesome Life

Positive Self-Talk Loving yourself might seem like a silly idea, partly because we often take it for granted. We talk a lot about loving others—or not being too fond of them—but rarely do we stop to think about how we feel about ourselves. So much of our daily life runs on autopilot. We wake up, shower, brush our teeth, and get dressed without much thought, just moving from one task to the next. Sometimes, we treat ourselves the same way: we take ourselves for granted and don’t pause to consider how we actually feel about ourselves. But you need to make a habit of loving yourself, always. Figuring out how we think can be a new concept for many of us. Thinking about thinking feels a bit like trying to remember how to move your feet while walking. So much of our thought process happens automatically, without us even noticing. But when we stop and step back from “ourselves,” we might discover a lot of our thoughts aren’t all that kind. Some people are their own worst critic without even realizing it. Sometimes, the things you say to yourself are things you’d never dream of saying out loud to anyone else: “I can’t believe you messed that up again—how dumb can you be?” “I’m not smart enough to pass that test.” “I’ll never get that part in the play.” You might not even be aware you're “saying” this to yourself, but if you step back and notice what you’re thinking, you may want to choose a kinder thought. If you wouldn’t say those things to your best friend, don’t say them to yourself. What are some examples of negative things you say to yourself without realizing it? 1) 2) 3) Side note: If you realize you haven’t been kind to yourself, don’t beat yourself up over it—that’s the opposite of what we’re trying to do here. We’re all learning and improving, so give yourself credit for that! If you were talking to your best friend, what would you say to be kind to them? 1) 2) 3) What would you like to start saying to yourself? 1) 2) 3) Loving yourself is something you need to practice all the time. This could mean taking a moment for yourself and doing something that makes you feel good. Maybe it’s making a cup of tea (or maybe that’s just me!). Maybe it’s doing a big, long stretch to ground yourself in your body. It could be taking a few deep breaths, or maybe heading to the batting cage to smash some baseballs out of the park. Treat yourself sometimes—you deserve it. Loving yourself isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the most important parts of living your awesome life. Practicing self-love doesn’t mean you have to think it’s okay when you mess up or don’t do your best. It means loving yourself regardless. Everyone makes mistakes, and there are things beyond your control. Love yourself anyway. The person you are is amazing—you deserve your own love. What are some things you can do to remind yourself that you love yourself? 1. Do something you enjoy 2. Treat yourself 3. Give yourself a compliment 4. 5.