Your words are Spirit and Life
Self-approval is required for personal growth. Once you approve of yourself, you can build self-confidence and grow. It even opens the door for others to want to be near you and share their knowledge with you, which furthers your growth potential.
People who are self-confident have no problem committing to the purpose and goals that they have set for themselves.
Look at the gold medalists, the champions, the winners, the movers and shakers. These people go after life because they know who they are. They’ve identified a purpose and created goals in line with their self-image. These are the people who get up an hour earlier, stay up an hour later, make the time to juggle schedules, school, marriage, careers, and children.
Why? Because they know their future depends not just on their efforts and abilities, but also on their courage to know that they can make a difference. Their confidence, self-approval, and understanding of who they are moves them to act on their potential. The world has mostly improved through people striving to be better and to make the world a much better place. Shirley Chisholm comes to mind. She helped to open the door for women in politics.
From 1972 to 1982, Shirley Chisholm served teh 12th Congressional District of Brooklyn for seven terms as the first black woman elected to the United States Congress. In 1972, she made an unprecedented bid for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. She once said:
“I’ve looked to no man for approval. I’ve always looked to my conscience and to God.”
Each of us can achieve far beyond what we can imagine, but we must have self-approval. We must appreciate who we are and be that person in the best way possible.
FIVE TIPS FOR GENERATING SELF-APPROVAL:
Ask someone you trust to tell you how they would rate you on specific traits. Are you your own worst enemy or your own best friend?
Make a list of what you expect in life. Are your expectations realistic? Remember that expectations are not the same as dreams and goals. If you dream of winning a gold medal but expect to come in dead last, your expectation will be met – not your dream.
Make a list of the things that drive you and things that stop you. Make a list of the “I could never…” statements you’ve told yourself. Then write affirmations of the opposite and drill them into your mind.
Learn to accept compliments! When people tell you something nice about yourself, celebrate and relish that great feeling! Your willingness to accept compliments is a strong measure of your sense of self-worth.
Forgive yourself for the times you beat yourself up, and forgive others for being less than what you think they should be.