I LIKE ME...

Hello Dear Friends... 
                 Is it really the middle of March??? We still have snow if you can believe it!

    This installment has taken longer to write than anticipated... and I will tell you why... It hit... way too close to home!  So... lets take a closer look at number three on the list.

"12 Things Happy People Do Differently"

3.  Avoid over-thinking and social comparison. – Comparing yourself to someone else can be poisonous.  If we’re somehow ‘better’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, it gives us an unhealthy sense of superiority.  Our ego inflates – KABOOM – our inner Kanye West comes out!  If we’re ‘worse’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, we usually discredit the hard work that we’ve done and dismiss all the progress that we’ve made.  What I’ve found is that the majority of the time this type of social comparison doesn’t stem from a healthy place.  If you feel called to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to an earlier version of yourself.

I have to say... when I first read this... I began to feel a little (BIG) pang of guilt!?!  In fact... I was having a difficult time not thinking about my own behavior at times. Yikes!!!
Sometimes it is so easy to criticize others... To find fault with family... friends or co-workers... Oh we know just what to say... how to justify our comments... But underneath... the need to criticize simply belies a longing for recognition, appreciation, and validation. None of which, however... can be obtained through criticism!
The sad thing is this... We all want to feel good about ourselves.  To be seen for whom we really are... Loving... Caring... Talented Divine Creature of the Universe.  

Louis Hay writes in her book "You Can Heal Your Life"... "Little babies love every inch of their bodies. They have no guilt, no shame, and no comparison. You were like that, and then somewhere along the line you listened to others who told you that you were “not good enough.” The subconscious mind has no sense of humor and does not know false from true. It only accepts what we say and what we think as the material from which it builds".

I believe that this can be a life long struggle for some of us... To believe in our hearts... that we are all lovable! And my friends... we are! ;-)  How wonderful is that??? To realize that we are part of all that is good in this world!  That we have so much to offer! The sky... really is NOT the limit! 

As a teacher of small children... I feel that one of the most important jobs that we will ever do as a people is to encourage ALL children to continue believing in themselves... Make time to listen to them... Look deep into their eyes... Praise them... for just being them!

There is this Children's Book... "I LIKE ME"... By Nancy Carison.  I have read this book a million times to my own children and the children at school!  The kids love it and really 

get a kick out of the pictures!  ;-)  And the message is so simple... and so true... "You must love yourself... before you can love another"... 


I think EVERYONE should read this book!
      Oink Oink!  ;0)

OK Dear Friends... Go easy on yourself... Think good thoughts about yourselves... LOVE yourself and others...
   And you will reap the benefits!

In Love...
Candace
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