 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
 |
 |
|
|
|
What are your positive qualities? |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
We are all our own worst critics. Most of us are all fully aware of our flaws and faults but we rarely dwell on our strengths, our abilities, our qualities. As children we are told that focusing on our qualities is showing off, bragging, being big-headed, and it is discouraged. o:p> We are also surrounded by negative influences. Our culture is incredibly critical. Advertising is commonly designed to make us feel inferior and lacking. We are told that we are unsuccessful (unless we drive this car), that we are overweight (unless we look like an anorexic model), that we have bad skin and dull hair (unless we use this soap/shampoo) and so the list endlessly goes on. Even if we attain all the fame and wealth that society aspires to, the gossip magazines will criticise and disparage all we do, the so called “tall poppy” syndrome. There is never an end to the negativity in our lives. But we can choose. Instead of focussing on our weak points why not focus on our strengths. Most of us do not even recognize them. An extremely powerful exercise is to identify what is GOOD about us. Let’s forget for the moment our faults. Let’s find out what our strengths are. I feel many people shudder and cringe, becoming very self conscious and saying to themselves “I don’t have many”. Well I can tell you now that you are completely WRONG. So do this exercise. Get a piece paper and write a list of your qualities. Don’t stop until you can’t think of any more. …… but wait there’s more ….. Keep the piece of paper in your wallet/purse and everyday pull it out, read the list and add any more that you can now think of. Don’t be modest, be honest with yourself. You will be amazed how long the list will become. Do this everyday for a week. Keep the list and keep on adding to it. Whenever you are feeling down, pull it out and read it to remind yourself how great you really are. If you are struggling to start this exercise ….. the mind going blank …. nothing coming up …. then you are trying too hard. Stop the exercise and wait until you have some quiet time. When you do have a still moment, find a peaceful place. Sit in a chair or on the ground with a straight back, close your eyes and let your body relax and your mind empty. Go inside of yourself and ask for your strong positive qualities to come to mind. You’ll be amazed how they will flow. I have listed many positive qualities further down on the page but DO NOT REFER TO IT until you have given yourself ample opportunity for your own list to emerge. >
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||