Growing up is hard work. I have a life-long friend named Michael Ross. When his first child, Brent, was born I was living in Albuquerque and Michael and Diana were serving on the same church staff that I served on.
I remember that Michael would walk around singing to Brent “It’s Tough Being a Boy Growing Up.” Of course this was a made-up song, but it gave us some great laughs, especially as Brent would lie there crying his little heart out while Michael or Diana tried to sooth and console him.
Life is tough. It is sometimes unfair, difficult and mundane.
Some wise counselor has observed that the hardest work we will ever do is on ourselves. When we’re born, we’re like an empty disc just awaiting input to be written all over our lives. As we grow and develop we encounter all kinds of data – some helpful and truthful, yet other data that is corrupt, or it has “a virus”. Oh, “they” meant well, but “they” fed us wrong information and instilled wrong stuff into our minds.
The more I read and study, the more I have come to realize that many people grow up feeling less than worthy. They feel no sense of acceptance or approval, and have a great lack of the right kind of love and connections in their lives. Perhaps they play their memory CDs too many times and hear voices from their past that were so ingrained in them that they can’t get past the first cut on the album in their mind.
Sometimes these songs go like this:
“You’re lousy.”
“You are a loser.”
“I don’t like you.”
“I hate you.”
“Leave that alone. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“You’re fat!”
“You’re ugly.”
Well, you get the picture.
Sometimes we are loved in life because of something we do very well. We are accepted because we can perform some task or talent exceptionally well.
Great News! Did you know you are loved just because you are you? You are created in the image of a God who loves you more than you could possibly know. He has given you a specific DNA, a unique finger print, and a skill set that is perfect for you to give you a whole and complete life.
You don’t have to prove anything to anyone to be accepted and loved. You exist! That is all that is required.
Now, here is a critical key to helping you understand this and accept your uniqueness.
Approve of yourself!
That’s it. Say to yourself “I approve of myself!”
You may say: Instead Say:
“But I’ve done …” “I approve of myself.”
“Look at my size.” “I approve of myself.”
“I’m not coordinated.” “I approve of myself.”
“I’m too …” “I approve of myself.”
“I’m not …” “I approve of myself.”
“But my Dad says …” “I approve of myself.”
“My teacher once told me…” “I approve of myself.”
You see, it’s not what “they” say. It’s what you now say to yourself.
Let me repeat that. It’s what you now say to yourself!
In the October 2009 issue of Success Magazine I read an article about Louise Hay, best-selling author and writer. One simple phrase jumped out and grabbed me as I read her article.
Louise shared her story and then told about the day when she discovered the phrase “I approve of myself.”
When I read this phrase I put down my magazine and said audibly “Wow! I needed that.” I felt as if I had found a piece that fit perfectly into my life. Louise says that she began repeating this phrase to herself numerous times each day.
I too, began repeating this phrase, and I too began to approve of and accept myself. I felt that I had discovered something significant that was missing in my own life and it was going to make a difference in my thoughts and attitudes and in how I viewed myself.
Understand that this phrase and mindset has nothing to do with a feeling of superiority or a “better-than-you” attitude, nor have I abandoned any of my fundamental religious concepts. This phrase has had a profound impact on how I view my skill set and my sense of self-value. I’ve found a healthy way of valuing myself!
I approve of myself.
Say it with me!
“I Approve of Myself! “
“I APPROVE OF MYSELF!”
Always remember, the only person from whom you really need approval is yourself.
As Brian Tracy says, “I like myself.”
As Louise and I say, “I Approve of Myself!
I remember that Michael would walk around singing to Brent “It’s Tough Being a Boy Growing Up.” Of course this was a made-up song, but it gave us some great laughs, especially as Brent would lie there crying his little heart out while Michael or Diana tried to sooth and console him.
Life is tough. It is sometimes unfair, difficult and mundane.
Some wise counselor has observed that the hardest work we will ever do is on ourselves. When we’re born, we’re like an empty disc just awaiting input to be written all over our lives. As we grow and develop we encounter all kinds of data – some helpful and truthful, yet other data that is corrupt, or it has “a virus”. Oh, “they” meant well, but “they” fed us wrong information and instilled wrong stuff into our minds.
The more I read and study, the more I have come to realize that many people grow up feeling less than worthy. They feel no sense of acceptance or approval, and have a great lack of the right kind of love and connections in their lives. Perhaps they play their memory CDs too many times and hear voices from their past that were so ingrained in them that they can’t get past the first cut on the album in their mind.
Sometimes these songs go like this:
“You’re lousy.”
“You are a loser.”
“I don’t like you.”
“I hate you.”
“Leave that alone. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“You’re fat!”
“You’re ugly.”
Well, you get the picture.
Sometimes we are loved in life because of something we do very well. We are accepted because we can perform some task or talent exceptionally well.
Great News! Did you know you are loved just because you are you? You are created in the image of a God who loves you more than you could possibly know. He has given you a specific DNA, a unique finger print, and a skill set that is perfect for you to give you a whole and complete life.
You don’t have to prove anything to anyone to be accepted and loved. You exist! That is all that is required.
Now, here is a critical key to helping you understand this and accept your uniqueness.
Approve of yourself!
That’s it. Say to yourself “I approve of myself!”
You may say: Instead Say:
“But I’ve done …” “I approve of myself.”
“Look at my size.” “I approve of myself.”
“I’m not coordinated.” “I approve of myself.”
“I’m too …” “I approve of myself.”
“I’m not …” “I approve of myself.”
“But my Dad says …” “I approve of myself.”
“My teacher once told me…” “I approve of myself.”
You see, it’s not what “they” say. It’s what you now say to yourself.
Let me repeat that. It’s what you now say to yourself!
In the October 2009 issue of Success Magazine I read an article about Louise Hay, best-selling author and writer. One simple phrase jumped out and grabbed me as I read her article.
Louise shared her story and then told about the day when she discovered the phrase “I approve of myself.”
When I read this phrase I put down my magazine and said audibly “Wow! I needed that.” I felt as if I had found a piece that fit perfectly into my life. Louise says that she began repeating this phrase to herself numerous times each day.
I too, began repeating this phrase, and I too began to approve of and accept myself. I felt that I had discovered something significant that was missing in my own life and it was going to make a difference in my thoughts and attitudes and in how I viewed myself.
Understand that this phrase and mindset has nothing to do with a feeling of superiority or a “better-than-you” attitude, nor have I abandoned any of my fundamental religious concepts. This phrase has had a profound impact on how I view my skill set and my sense of self-value. I’ve found a healthy way of valuing myself!
I approve of myself.
Say it with me!
“I Approve of Myself! “
“I APPROVE OF MYSELF!”
Always remember, the only person from whom you really need approval is yourself.
As Brian Tracy says, “I like myself.”
As Louise and I say, “I Approve of Myself!
God Loves You whether you like it or not!
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