Last night one of my teenaged daughters told her older sister she wanted to be her, "Because you are thin and have a great tan..." Overhearing this, the coach in me kicked into overdrive! I opened my mouth to take advantage of the teaching opportunity, only to be silenced by my "thin and tanned" daughter. She said, "Let me tell you what I have learned..." She began by telling her younger sister that she had learned that you must be happy with yourself the way you are. Otherwise, when you are "thin and tanned," you will still be unhappy. Wise words for one so young...
I struggled with what I call the "IF ONLY" syndrome for most of my life. I would be happy if only I were 20 pounds lighter. I would be happy if only had more money in the bank. I would be happy if only my husband would...I would be happy if only my children would...It finally dawned on me that I would never be happy because I was living a life over which I had no control! I had given all of my control away. And, I didn't even know how to take it back.
Then I listened to The Success Principles, by Jack Canfield. I learned that I must take 100% responsibility for everything that showed up in my life. Not blame. Just responsibility. Because if I wasn't responsible for what showed up, I had absolutely no hope of changing my circumstances!
Now I go through life reminding myself that whatever circumstance I may find myself in, there is no one to blame. Although it may look like my misfortune was caused by another, I know this is never the case. I know that whatever showed up was the result of whatever I was thinking. And, I find it very comforting to know that if I caused my circumstances with my own thoughts, I can change my circumstances by changing my mind.
Simply put, our "self-talk" is what shapes our lives. Positive thoughts about ourselves will produce a good self-image. Change your thoughts, change your life. Improvement begins with I.
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