Friday, 5/09/08 - our weekly challenge!
It's Friday. Which means I have to think. And that's alright.
A younger friend actually did the work for me earlier this week, when she mentioned her family giving her a hard time about her weight.
I reacted the only way it's possible for a person with my wiring to react - with incredulous rage.
My grandmother told me a long, long time ago that girth has nothing to do with worth. She liked the feel and the cadence of words every bit as much as I do. She was also very wise.
Tell me this isn't true, I dare you. Women tend to judge themselves by the reflections they perceive in other peoples' eyes. We let what we think other people think of us tell us who we are.
And we think we are not worthy. We think we don't measure up. And, make no mistake about it, capitalizing on that insecurity is a profitable venture, be it for a family member trying to manipulate us into going that extra step, or for the clothing and cosmetic industries, enticing us to buy, buy, buy, with the hope that the right look will allow us to disguise our unworthiness, even for the "health" related industries, with all the quick diet fixes out there for those many women who just want to feel alright about themselves.
Does this bother you? It should.
Who knows who you are better than you yourself? And what gives the judgments, whether perceived or expressed, of another any weight or value? Perception tends to be deceptive. And we are equal in worth to anyone we interact with, stripping their judgments of any power over our self-esteem or our decision making processes.
So, here's your challenge today:
Get a piece of paper - or use Notepad, I don't care - and write down every wonderful thing about yourselves. Make that list long. List your strengths. List your accomplishments. List your virtues. List the kindnesses you've shown to others. List all the things that would make you want to be a friend to yourself. And carry that list around with you, so that you can remind yourself whenever you feel the need.
Then be a friend to yourself.
It's not so hard.
A younger friend actually did the work for me earlier this week, when she mentioned her family giving her a hard time about her weight.
I reacted the only way it's possible for a person with my wiring to react - with incredulous rage.
My grandmother told me a long, long time ago that girth has nothing to do with worth. She liked the feel and the cadence of words every bit as much as I do. She was also very wise.
Tell me this isn't true, I dare you. Women tend to judge themselves by the reflections they perceive in other peoples' eyes. We let what we think other people think of us tell us who we are.
And we think we are not worthy. We think we don't measure up. And, make no mistake about it, capitalizing on that insecurity is a profitable venture, be it for a family member trying to manipulate us into going that extra step, or for the clothing and cosmetic industries, enticing us to buy, buy, buy, with the hope that the right look will allow us to disguise our unworthiness, even for the "health" related industries, with all the quick diet fixes out there for those many women who just want to feel alright about themselves.
Does this bother you? It should.
Who knows who you are better than you yourself? And what gives the judgments, whether perceived or expressed, of another any weight or value? Perception tends to be deceptive. And we are equal in worth to anyone we interact with, stripping their judgments of any power over our self-esteem or our decision making processes.
So, here's your challenge today:
Get a piece of paper - or use Notepad, I don't care - and write down every wonderful thing about yourselves. Make that list long. List your strengths. List your accomplishments. List your virtues. List the kindnesses you've shown to others. List all the things that would make you want to be a friend to yourself. And carry that list around with you, so that you can remind yourself whenever you feel the need.
Then be a friend to yourself.
It's not so hard.
