Thanking Ourselves

This conversation was originally sent out to those who subscribe to my weekly newsletter. The response was so positive I thought I would share it with you on my blog. You will find a place to sign up to receive my weekly by scrolling to the bottom of this page.

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I read something on social media about a Rap singer who won an award. When he accepted the award, he thanked himself. This sounded weird until I read more of the post. He thanked himself for staying strong when others doubted him, for all the hard work he put into his dream, even though few people could see his vision. The more I read the more his behavior made sense to me.

When was the last time you looked in the mirror and said to yourself, thank you for being strong over the past year? Or thanking yourself for having the courage to remain true to yourself when so many other people are blindingly following others. What about thanking yourself for learning new skills that opened new doors of possibilities for you?

I’m in the last few days of having my first book published, so today I thanked myself for sticking with it when I was doubting myself and the entire process. It can be challenging to follow a path we have never traveled before, but deep in our heart we know the journey will be worth it. Can we thank ourselves for having the courage to move forward?

With these thoughts in mind a conversation with my Inner Voice may shed some clarity of the subject of thanking ourselves. My questions will be in italics.

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It seems that thanking ourselves is a way to boost our ego. Is this the case?

If the intention is to swell your being with love then the act of thanking yourself is beneficial to your emotional health. Think of this act as a way to acknowledge the strength you have while facing the challenges life has in store for you. You are recognizing the effort you have put into creating your life. Thanking yourself for having the courage to move forward each and every day is a powerful act of self-love, not a way to boost the ego.

It seems odd to think of thanking ourselves for moving forward with the challenges we face in life.

It seems odd because many people confuse this positive behavior as a way to build a false sense of identity. To thank yourself is a way to tell yourself you approve of the way you are dealing with life. People will make a long list of those who have helped them overcome hardships, yet they fail to thank themselves for doing the tough work of looking within themselves to find the answers needed to live a healthier life. Who is doing the work? Who is facing the challenges with courage, strength and a desire to live a better life? You of course! Give yourself some credit and thank yourself for a job well done.

Yes, but the inner work to live a healthier life may not be finished, what then?

You do not have to wait until your journey is over to thank yourself. Anytime you feel you need an emotional boost, thank yourself for having the courage, and strength to move away from your negative self-talk and into the warm embrace of your self-love.

What does thanking ourselves do for us emotionally?

Thanking yourself will boost your self-worth and self-esteem because you understand you are doing the best you can. There is no need to judge yourself harshly for the way your life has unfolded. Learn to recognize that every experience in your life has within it a positive lesson you need for your positive growth. By thanking yourself, you are telling yourself how much you appreciate the lessons you are learning, and the resulting positive growth.

What are some of the ways we can thank ourselves?

Thank yourself for having the courage to look past the negative experience to discover the hidden lessons. Thank yourself for looking within, to uncover the love you have been asking others to supply for your happiness. Thank yourself for knowing that when you judge others you often do so to make yourself feel better about who you are.

Thank yourself for knowing that the truth of who you are is love, and you can always return to this love when life gets challenging. Last but certainly not least, thank yourself for being true to yourself. When the world around you seeks to shape you into someone they can accept, someone who does not challenge their version of who they think you are, thank yourself for being courageous enough to be authentic.

If you are not feeling your best, thank yourself for getting out of bed and having the courage to face the coming day. Thank yourself for the little things you do to take care of yourself each and every day.

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This morning, I thanked myself for learning to trust and then follow my inner guidance when it comes to the choices I face each and every day.

Can you thank yourself for remaining true to yourself, or courageous enough to stand up for yourself when others doubt you? Let me know what you think. Click on the link below to leave a question or a comment, I’m always open to exploring the conversation further.

I’m grateful to write a monthly column for two online magazines. This month my article titled, “The Eyes of the Beholder” can be found in Conscious Shift Magazine, here is the link.

https://consciousshiftcommunity.com/the-eye-of-the-beholder/

While in New Spirit Journal you will find my article titled, “Positive Change”

https://www.newspiritjournalonline.com/positive-change/

Check out these great resources for inspiration, guidance, and spiritual wisdom.

We are in the final countdown of having my book, Your Inner Guidance, The Path to Discovering Your True Happiness,” ready for sale. This week I’ll be ordering an author proof copy to make sure everything looks and feels as it should. I’ll keep you posted when and where you can get an eBook or a physical copy.

I want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of this wonderful adventure called life. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Peace and well-being, Paul

 

Copyright Paul Hudon 2021