Who are you?

How do you answer that question?  How do you define yourself?  When people ask you who you are, what do you say?  Do you list your occupation?  Your family status?  How many children you have?

What about when you ask yourself that question?  How do you define yourself within the privacy of your own thoughts? Are you positive or negative? 

For example, do you find yourself saying any of the following:

• "I'm fat."  
• "I'm ugly."  
• "I'm weak." 
• "I'm unlovable." (also known as "no one loves me")
• "I'm worthless." (also known as "I'm a bother" or "I'm not worth ___" or "there's no time for me")
• "I'm unable."  (also known as the ever-present "I can't")

Do you?  Be honest.  Guess what?  I do.  I have said - and still sometimes do say - all those things.  But (you knew there had to be a "but," right?) here's the thing:  what you say to yourself defines you.  In other words:

Whatever Follows the Words "I AM," Shapes Your Reality

What that means is, every time you say you're fat, you are reinforcing that idea...which can and will translate into a self-fulfilling prophecy.  Every time you say you're weak?  You become weaker.  Every time you say you're worthless?  Your own value decreases. 

What you tell yourself, matters, and it matters A LOT.  So can we try something?  I have a challenge for you:  for the next 7 days (yes, just 7!), I want you to do 2 things:

1. Every time you find yourself saying something negative, take a moment and counteract it.  Every time you say "I'm fat," tell yourself you're in progress.  Or you're beautiful.  Or whatever hits you most in the gut.  Every time you say "I'm weak," tell yourself you are strong.  Just try it - for 7 days.
2. Make a list of 25 things you love about yourself.  25 - it's not a huge number, but it's not minuscule either.  Take the time to make that list, and carry it with you.  Read it twice a day - for 7 days.

I'm willing to bet you may see some changes - at least in your outlook - in only 7 days.  So, who's with me?  Will you try?  Drop me a line and let me know.  I'd love to encourage you!