The longer I live the more convinced I become that we, too frequently, deny ourselves a vital gift. One of the most important contributions to our happiness is the gift of self-appreciation.
It occurred to me since we are interested in satisfaction and happiness after our main career has been completed it would not only be valuable to celebrate our “body of work” as I suggested in my last blog but to interpret those achievements.
A few weeks ago, while staying with our friends in Malaga, Spain, the conversation turned to how does a person answer the question; “Who am I now that I am no longer working and have my title and my position?”
Margaret was asking this question, at first rhetorically, but as we pursued it, it became more personal.
So I suggested an exercise for her. I said, “Make a list of just 25 of your positive qualities.”
Her first reaction was the same one most people have when I give them this assignment. “25! I can’t think of that many.” She is an extraordinarily intelligent woman with a lifetime of achievements behind her but wasn’t acknowledging them. With a little prompting she was able to see herself more accurately in light of her plus qualities and came up with a pretty good list. When she read it to me I said. “You left off an important one, humility.” She laughed and I could tell she felt better about herself.
I recommend this exercise for all of us from time to time.
Why don’t you sit down and do it now. You’ll be glad you did. It is from the vantage point of knowing our strengths that we can see our potential.
Success thought for today:
“ How little do we know that which we are!
How less what we may be!”
-Lord Byron
Byron
www.byronethompson.com
No tags
