So often in life we concentrate on what is wrong with us – the things we cannot do, our shortcomings and our foibles. We examine our “issues” so often that we can recite them in our sleep and as the list grows sometimes it feels like there is so much “wrong” that we don’t know what we can possibly do to change what we have told ourselves is “fact.” So what if today, we changed things up a bit and decided to concentrate on all that is “right” with us. How would that influence our beliefs about ourselves and make a “so-so” day into one that shines and puts little skip in our steps.

Here is my list for today in no particular order. I would love to see yours in the comments section.

1. I am a good researcher. I find things others can’t.
2. I am a good friend. I can keep a secret better than anyone.
3. I am interested in others lives and enjoy being attentive to their experiences.
4. I am interesting. I have a breadth of knowledge about many things and I try to keep up with current events.
5. I am a fierce Momma Bear and advocate for my children and march on in my efforts when others would have given up.
6. I fight for the things that I love.
7. Family is important to me and I try to make sure that those I love know that they are valued and loved by me.
8. I love to travel, meet people, and learn from my experiences.
9. If a puzzle needs to be solved I am your gal.
10. I am not afraid to walk up to a person and start a conversation.
11. I am fun and do the unexpected like take photos of my friends who could not attend our group event, blow their pictures up, staple them to sticks, and carry them through the city with me photographing them at places like the CHEERS BAR in Boston.
12. I am smart.
13. I recognize and honor my intuitiveness.
14. I work hard when something needs to be done.
15. For the most part I am content with what I have and have no need to “keep up with the Joneses.”
16. I know how much that I really don’t know.
17. I am compassionate with loved ones and strangers.
18. I am a good writer.
19. I try to stay in touch with others and send cards and letters to others so that they know that they are on my mind.
20. I work hard at preserving my family history so that my family can learn from our past.
21. I am able to self-hypnotize so that I can quickly relax and get to a peaceful state of mind.
22. When I do get down in spirit I work hard to lighten the load so I can return to a place of happiness.
23. I do small things for myself (like a warm candle-lit bath) on a regular basis.
24. I read on a regular basis.
25. I exercise often.
26. I am a seeker
27. I sing well.
28. Integrity is important to me. I try hard to be fair and honest.

Hopefully after making this list you too will see that there is so much good in and around you that when things become challenging you can whip out your list and give yourself a boost to face the coming day. We all have our gifts which need to be acknowledged and celebrated far more often than we do. In remembering what is good about ourselves we can offer it to others or wrap those things around our own selves like a blanket on a cold rainy day. For knowing ourselves gives us the ability to live freely so that what we do aligns with who we are. Amen!