Good morning!
I was thinking "how do you follow up a post like yesterday?" I can only speak for myself, of course, and I believe the first step in changing a life (however far one feels like they have to go) is acknowledging self worth and love. What is worth exactly? I had to look it up myself and some of the definitions are: the quality that renders something desirable, useful or valuable, commands esteem or respect. I don't know about you, but those are big, important, almost scary words for me. In my case, I never felt worthy enough for change or love or marriage or success in my career. At one point, I had lost about 75 lbs and found myself crying almost daily. Instead of looking at what I had accomplished, I looked at how far I had to go. Be forewarned: if you do this on your journey, you WILL fail. It is disastrous to your psyche and your growth. Ok, so what can you do? Well, the best thing I did was start therapy. Finding an unbiased opinion that's going to look at the situation for what it is saved my life, literally. If you can't afford a therapist or just don't feel comfortable talking to a stranger, I strongly suggest confiding in someone....whether that be a friend, pastor, or co worker. Make sure that person has your best interest at heart, so you can be completely transparent and honest with everything. Sometimes actually saying the things you feel out loud is all you need. Clarity may be found and sometimes you find that what you're thinking, in all reality, is silly and insignificant. I went to therapy for almost 3 years and learned more about myself in a once or twice a week appointment than I did for the first 25 years of life. It helped me to know how and why I was the way that I was. And yes, you need to revisit the unfriendly, dark, scary years.
Worth is something nobody can give you. It's something YOU have to find within yourself and accept. Acknowledge it everyday. Say nice things to yourself, you deserve it. Thank God for YOU everyday. ("I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your workfare wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14) This is one of those battles I have daily because harmful and ugly thoughts creep into my brain and sometimes take over, but with the armor of God and healthy repetition of positive thoughts, they are becoming decreasingly less. Praise The Lord!
Love...we all want it. And I can guarantee that we've all experienced it at some point for a length of time. But what we haven't talked about is loving one's self. Talk about the biggest and best love there is besides the love of Christ. When I started loving myself, I saw ME in a different light. Want to know what is comforting? Knowing that the God of the universe loves me. He created me in my mother's womb and has a plan for my life. Please know that this was NOT overnight! It has taken years and I STILL have moments when I feel unlovable. If you're searching for love through someone else or a materialistic thing, you can stop right now! People and things will disappoint and fail you every time. They don't mean too. Really, they don't. Pure, everlasting joy and love can only come from and be maintained through Jesus and the fact that he died for you and me. If that doesn't put things into perspective, I don't know what will. Honestly, once I got over myself and MY problems and started loving on other people and investing time in them, did I see a change in me and the blessings that other people were to me. Ever heard the saying "too blessed to be stressed"? It really is true. Start finding the good things in life and quit focusing on what you don't have. When you begin to see the positive, you start changing your mindset. It's been a process for myself but becoming easier and easier, day by day. Try it!!
So, here's OUR tip for today:
Start finding your own worth. Start loving yourself where you are right now! Don't dwell on the past or romanticize about the future. Live in the moment! You'll never get it back.
Thank you for taking time to read this blog. I know it may be long, but it all comes from the heart and I want to pass on the knowledge that I know has worked for me.
Blessed to be a blessing!
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