|
Guest Article
Category: Personal Development
Acknowledge and Appreciate YourselfTODAY!
by Jack Canfield
With the year coming to a
close, it's time to acknowledge and appreciate yourself for everything you've accomplished
today, throughout the year, and in life.
How many times have you
succeeded in the past month? Are you able to recall your successes as well as your failures and
missteps?
Many people
under-appreciate the little things they accomplish every day. And yet they can recall in
detail all the times they have failed or made mistakes. That's because the brain remembers
events more easily when they're accompanied by strong emotions.
You might recall
graduation, losing 10 pounds, winning an award, or landing a highly sought after position.
But do you include in your
successes how you had a really great talk with your spouse, how you spent quality time with your
teen, how you got all your list of things done for the day, how you learned to change your own
oil, or got your fussy child to take a nap?
If you don't acknowledge
your successes the same way you acknowledge your mistakes, you're sure to have a memory full of
blunders.
Toot your own horn and
don't wait for anyone else to praise you!
If you only remember the
mistakes and failures, you won't be as ready to take risks that will lead to your successes.
Build your self-esteem by recalling ALL the ways you have succeeded and your brain will be
filled with images of you making your achievements happen again and again.
The more you acknowledge
your past successes, the more confident you become in taking on and successfully accomplishing
new ones.
Take time to write your
achievements down.
To really convince yourself
that you're a successful person who can continue to achieve great things, I'd like to challenge
you to list 100 or more of your life successes.
Start when you were very
young and think of all your achievements since then. Don't just pick the big things, write down
all the things you take for granted. Thinks like, learning to ride a bike, singing solo at
church, getting your first job, or leading a fund-raising campaign.
You should also begin to
create a Victory Log of your daily successes and review it anytime you are faced with a new
challenge. By writing it down everyday, you're securing it in your long-term memory, which
enhances your self-esteem and builds your confidence.
Surround yourself with
reminders of your success.
We know from research that
what you see in your environment has a psychological impact on your moods, your attitudes, and
your behavior. Your environment has a great deal of influence over you. And here's an even more
important fact: You have almost total control over your immediate environment.
Put up pictures, articles,
trophies, awards and other symbols of your past achievements that remind you about your past
successes. Make a special place - a special shelf, wall or section of your home or office that
you pass by every day and fill it with your success symbols.
This will have a powerful
effect on your subconscious mind and will subtly remind you that you are someone who has
consistent success in life!
This is also a great thing
to do for your children. Proudly display their success symbols as well.
People like to be around
those who have a healthy self-esteem and who are achieving their goals. Commit to acknowledging
your achievements and your brain will begin to tell you the truth... that you can do ANYTHING!
Taking just 30 minutes to
complete this activity will become your positive springboard into 2010 for even more
successes.
(Written at the end of December, 2009)
© 2009 Jack Canfield
|
