Resolutions

It's New Years Eve, so it's time for some resolutions. I got a list of "How to Love Yourself" from the program I'm in that seems like a really good list of resolutions. So if you need any ideas, choose a few from this list! I've italicized the parts that I'm going to pay particular attention to.

1. STOP ALL CRITICISM. Criticism never changes a thing. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself exactly as you are. Everybody changes. When you criticize yourself, your changes are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.


2. DON'T SCARE YOURSELF. Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It's a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure (such as a bouquet of yellow roses), and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.


3. BE GENTLE AND KIND AND PATIENT. Be gentle with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself as you learn new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really love.


4. BE KIND TO YOUR MIND. Self-hatred means that you merely hate your own thoughts. Don't hate yourself for having the thoughts. Decide to gently change them.


5. PRAISE YOURSELF. Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.


6. SUPPORT YOURSELF. Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. Make new friends and acquaintances if you need them. Being strong means asking for help when you need it.


7. BE LOVING TO YOUR NEGATIVES. Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So go ahead, give yourself permission to lovingly release those old patterns.


8. TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need to have optimum energy and vitality? Exercise is a key factor too. Discover fun, energizing activities that you enjoy doing and do them! Cherish and revere the temple that you live in.


9. MIRROR WORK. Look into your eyes often. Allow yourself to express this growing awareness of your love-ability. Forgive yourself while looking in the mirror too. At least once a day say to yourself: "I love you! I really love you!"


10. LOVE YOURSELF - DO IT NOW. Don't wait until you get well, begin a new relationship, or start your dream job. Choose to begin now - and do the best you can.

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December 2, 2011

Self-Care

This was an art therapy drawing. I drew nature, green determination, and pink hope that all stave off the blue and grey depression on either side. This drawing seems fitting for the above list as they are ways of caring for yourself.