Yesterday I posted an entry entitled "Labels". My goal with that entry was to get you thinking of all the "labels" you wear in your day to day life, both the good and the bad. At times, the labels we wear are the things said to us by those in our lives, even the people closest to us. We hear things said by others and we can sometimes take on those labels and believe them even when it's a negative, which may or may not even be true of who we are.
Labels can be both empowering and demeaning. Did you notice that about your labels too?
Did you take the time to write down some of your labels? How did it go? Were you able to see how you may have taken on those negative labels even if they aren't true? Did you challenge the negative things you may have heard about yourself? Grant it some may be true at certain times of your life, but are the labels you're wearing a true and accurate description of who you truly are now?
Chances are they aren't a true and accurate description of who you are. We can take on labels and own them but I challenge you before you accept a label to describe you..that you challenge its truth completely before using it to identify yourself.
Labels can be both empowering and demeaning. Did you notice that about your labels too?
Did you take the time to write down some of your labels? How did it go? Were you able to see how you may have taken on those negative labels even if they aren't true? Did you challenge the negative things you may have heard about yourself? Grant it some may be true at certain times of your life, but are the labels you're wearing a true and accurate description of who you truly are now?
Chances are they aren't a true and accurate description of who you are. We can take on labels and own them but I challenge you before you accept a label to describe you..that you challenge its truth completely before using it to identify yourself.
Changing what you view as a negative into a positive isn't always easy I know but I have taken a few of mine and changed them for you as an example.
Negative Label...Welfare Bum
Positive Label...Injured Worker
Negative “I” Statement...You're a lazy welfare bum
Positive “I” Statement...I am an injured worker working on my recovery back to work
Negative Label...Useless
Positive Label...Needed
Negative “I” Statements...Without a job to support my family I'm useless to them.
Positive “I” Statements...I can support my family in many ways. Its not just about money.
Negative Label...Unrealistic Expectations
Positive Label...Tenacious
Negative “I” Statements...You expect too much from others and yourself.
Positive “I” Statements...I have goals that I am working towards. I don't give up easily.
Negative Label...Broken
Positive Label...Accepting
Negative “I” Statements...I'm broken because of my injury. My life will never be the same
Positive “I” Statements...I can accept that I am different in some ways, but I'm still the same in many others.
Negative Label...Worthless
Positive Label...Loved
Negative “I” Statements...I'm a bother and a hindrance to my family and friends.
Positive “I” Statements...I am loved by my family and friends. They want to help me and it is okay to be helped.
Negative Label...Wild
Positive Label...Energetic
Negative “I” Statements...You are like a bull in a china shop
Positive “I” Statements...I feel very energetic today
These are just a few of the labels I wore and changing how I viewed them wasn't always easy. I am my own worst enemy in the things I say to myself. I can beat me up better than anyone else. BUT! I also believe it is up to us to be gentler and kinder to ourselves before we can expect anyone else to be kind and gentle with us.
When we are changing how we perceive ourselves we need to change our “I” statements. Those little statements that we say to ourselves when we think no one else is listening. Our “I” statements can be just as damaging if not more so, than statements said by others. And why wouldn't they? We know our weaknesses and sore spots better than anyone.
Sometimes it is not what others say to us, but what we say to ourselves that hurt the most
I have found that if we do not like ourselves it is often difficult for others to like us. We make it extremely difficult for others to see our positives because we are so immersed in our negatives. Our negatives are on display for all to see. Our pain is raw and our emotions are burned. But it is up to us to put our positives on display instead of our negatives. It is a conscious choice, and it is yours.
But like all healing, it needs to start from within first. I hope you feel you are worth it. I know you are!
THINK POSITIVE! and take good care of you ok?
Negative Label...Welfare Bum
Positive Label...Injured Worker
Negative “I” Statement...You're a lazy welfare bum
Positive “I” Statement...I am an injured worker working on my recovery back to work
Negative Label...Useless
Positive Label...Needed
Negative “I” Statements...Without a job to support my family I'm useless to them.
Positive “I” Statements...I can support my family in many ways. Its not just about money.
Negative Label...Unrealistic Expectations
Positive Label...Tenacious
Negative “I” Statements...You expect too much from others and yourself.
Positive “I” Statements...I have goals that I am working towards. I don't give up easily.
Negative Label...Broken
Positive Label...Accepting
Negative “I” Statements...I'm broken because of my injury. My life will never be the same
Positive “I” Statements...I can accept that I am different in some ways, but I'm still the same in many others.
Negative Label...Worthless
Positive Label...Loved
Negative “I” Statements...I'm a bother and a hindrance to my family and friends.
Positive “I” Statements...I am loved by my family and friends. They want to help me and it is okay to be helped.
Negative Label...Wild
Positive Label...Energetic
Negative “I” Statements...You are like a bull in a china shop
Positive “I” Statements...I feel very energetic today
These are just a few of the labels I wore and changing how I viewed them wasn't always easy. I am my own worst enemy in the things I say to myself. I can beat me up better than anyone else. BUT! I also believe it is up to us to be gentler and kinder to ourselves before we can expect anyone else to be kind and gentle with us.
When we are changing how we perceive ourselves we need to change our “I” statements. Those little statements that we say to ourselves when we think no one else is listening. Our “I” statements can be just as damaging if not more so, than statements said by others. And why wouldn't they? We know our weaknesses and sore spots better than anyone.
Sometimes it is not what others say to us, but what we say to ourselves that hurt the most
I have found that if we do not like ourselves it is often difficult for others to like us. We make it extremely difficult for others to see our positives because we are so immersed in our negatives. Our negatives are on display for all to see. Our pain is raw and our emotions are burned. But it is up to us to put our positives on display instead of our negatives. It is a conscious choice, and it is yours.
But like all healing, it needs to start from within first. I hope you feel you are worth it. I know you are!
THINK POSITIVE! and take good care of you ok?
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