Are You Proud of Being You?

Do you like you?

There are a lot of songs out there about "self love"/loving yourself for who you are.

P!nk's "Perfect"   Colbie Caillat's "Try"  and here's a list of others.

Women (and men) alike are getting more and more aware of the fact that in order to be happier on this Earth we need to love ourselves for who we are right here and  now.  The other day I was talking with a friend that I have always thought was  gorgeous and honestly have always been a jealous of. She told me that she hated going out where there are a lot of people because she was afraid that they would judge her.  This comment floored me.  I seriously couldn't find a single thing wrong with her AT ALL and still am dumbfounded that she felt she contained anything that could be judged.  Then I thought "I wonder if others think that of me?  Am I too hard on myself?"  Answer -- probably.  No, defiantly!

This morning during my devotions I read the verse 1 John 4:19 which says, "We love because he first loved us."  We love ourselves because our creator loved us first.  He created us!  Why wouldn't he?  He made us the way we are today, right now... for...a...REASON!  I cannot tell you how often I've forgotten that myself.

In this devotion the author created 10 things to remember when you start down the path of self-defeat:

1. Be Content with what you have
2. STOP comparing
3. Count your blessings (my addition: And Thank God for them)
4. Quit personalizing every comment
5. Maintain a servant spirit (my addition: be grateful to help others around you.  You have that ability when they do not.  Also, God calls us to be servants for him.  "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people" - Ephesians 6:7)
6. Do the unexpected for a loved one
7. Keep a heart of gratitude
8. Don't be negative (I seriously struggle with this one)
9. Respect yourself 
10. Take God at his Word!

"He puts stock in [our] character rather than [how we play] charades" - Author Unknown (because I left my book behind). :)

So remember that loving yourself will not come easy like snapping your fingers or twitching your nose.   But never give up on yourself either.  If you're not proud of who you are ... learn to.  You are not your mistakes - You're your new best success story ... now live it!

 

(google search).