A few years ago, I would have totally rolled my eyes at this blog, but here I am, putting it out there anyway. I could have titled it ‘Being Thankful for Yourself’ or something like that, but I was afraid no one would open it. But now that you’re here, please go ahead and read it with an open mind.
Gratitude and weight loss really do go together. First off, know that I feel extremely grateful for all of the blessings in my life, but I am specifically talking about self-appreciation and self-compassion here. I have heard it said, “You can’t hate yourself thin”. We sometimes think if we are disgusted enough with ourselves, it will push us into action. Usually the opposite happens.
If appreciating yourself feels like you are bragging, remember that you did not create yourself. You can appreciate who you are without taking the credit. Gratitude for yourself is not arrogance. Arrogance is when you think you are better than others. We are all born equally and fully worthy.
We take the time to tell other people how much we appreciate them and what they have done for us, but we don’t usually thank ourselves. Take a minute right now and think of a few things that you appreciate about yourself.
If it helps, here is some of my list:
- I appreciate that I am willing to learn and grow.
- I like that my hair doesn’t have to be washed every day.
- I am thankful that I have exercised regularly for so long that it is automatic for me.
- I appreciate my sense of humor (even if no one else does).
Is making this list difficult for you? Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Most of us tend to focus on the things we don’t like about ourselves, the things we want to change.
Self-care involves seeing our value enough that we will eat, exercise and rest in a way that is kind to ourselves.
This week at the Thanksgiving table when we ask each other what we are thankful for, I am going to respond, “Myself” and see what the reactions are. This will certainly tell me which of my family members actually read my blog.
