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Guest Article
Category: Success Personal Development / Finance & Investment / Time Management / Health
/ Wealth Building / Leadership
Acknowledge and
Appreciate Yourself by Jack Canfield
Pop
Quiz: When was the last time you acknowledged and appreciated
yourself?
That's right: YOU. Not your spouse, not your children,
not your boss, co-workers or friends. Just YOU!
Seriously, think about it!
And if it's been too long since your last pat on the
back, then I want you to take the time right now to acknowledge and appreciate yourself for
everything you've accomplished today, throughout the year, and in life.
Ask yourself: How many times have you succeeded in the
past month? The past year? The past 10 years? Are you able to recall your successes as easily as
your failures and missteps?
This is not a selfish or egotistical act in the least.
By taking the time to stop and appreciate who you are and what you've achieved--and perhaps
learned through a few mistakes, stumbles and losses--you actually can enhance everything about
you!
Self-acknowledgment and appreciation are what give you
the insights and awareness to move forward toward higher goals and
accomplishments.
In working with top leaders and thought philosophers of
our time, I will tell you that among their secrets of success is a regular practice of
acknowledging and appreciating what they have. It can offer an oracle into the future because it
not only tells you where you are but it also helps clarify where you want to go in life.
Whatever that might be. The road then becomes easier to navigate--easier to see from the
distance and walk confidently step by step.
Don't forget to think about both big and little
accomplishments. Many people under-appreciate the minor things they do successfully 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 are accompanied by strong
emotions.
For example, you might vividly recall a graduation,
losing 10 pounds, having a child, winning an award, or landing a highly sought after position.
But see if you can identify just as many minor, more subtle successes, such as your intimate
conversation with your spouse last night, the re-connection you established with an estranged
friend last month, the quality time you were able to spend with your children today, how you
checked off all your list of To-Dos for the weekend, how you learned a new task at work, or got
your kid to school on time.
These may seem like minor acts in the grand scheme of
life, but they are what make us feel whole, happy, and accomplished along the journey toward
those larger, and much more deeply satisfying moments.
Acknowledging your mistakes also has it pluses, but we
often don't have trouble recalling or mulling over those. The point is, if you don't acknowledge
your successes the same way you acknowledge your mistakes, you're sure to have a memory full of
blunders. And a mind stuffed with negative chatter about the gaffes of life won't fuel your
energy, nor your confidence, creativity, and motivation to keep going.
Consider this, too: 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.
Give yourself permission to toot your own horn and don't
wait for anyone to praise you. Here are two suggestions:
1.) Record Your
Personal History. Take time to write your achievements down.
Start when you were very young and think of all your achievements since then. Don't just pick
the major milestones; write down all the things you take for granted. For example, if you list
your college degree, write your appreciation for having the opportunity to go to college and
forge friendships that will last a lifetime.
You can also create a log of success every day and
review it when you are faced with a new challenge. By writing it all down daily, you're securing
it in your long-term memory and it will become a part of what makes you tick. It can even become
a source of positive reminders and affirmations for when you're feeling down, as well as a
personal record of you that becomes your legacy.
2.) Celebrate
Yourself with Mementos. Surround yourself with reminders of
your successes. Put up pictures, articles, trophies, awards and other pieces that bring your
attention to your success. Make your environment speak to you about your achievements. Be proud
of them!
By the way, showing appreciation for yourself and
accomplishments has many rewards that go far beyond boosting your own
self-confidence.
Appreciating yourself creates a cascading affect--your
heightened confidence will spill over into other aspects of your life. Watch what happens when
you gain that special trust in yourself. You'll attract opportunities, experience more
fulfilling relationships, and have no trouble reaching loftier goals.
Remember, 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!
© 2009 Jack Canfield
Jack
Canfield, America's Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book
brand Chicken Soup for
the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you're ready to
jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your
FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
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