Many of us were raised with the mindset that we shouldn’t toot our own horns. That singing your praises should be left to others. Don’t be a braggart.
In fact, in many of us, that has led us to believe that we shouldn’t look for our own strengths at all. We should leave that to others.
Let me tell you what’s wrong with that approach.
Often times, if you wait for someone else to tell you what you’re good at or notice that you’re awesome, you may be waiting a helluva long time. Like forever. Some people just won’t say it. Ever.
People see things through the prism of their own life experience. The things that are important to you may not be the same that are important to others. And sadly, some people are just plain negative. Or judgmental. So waiting for someone else to tell you how you’re awesome…well, that time may never come.
I remember when I was a young parent raising a very spirited child. I desperately wanted someone to affirm that I was doing a good job and being a good parent. But people have so many opinions about the way things should be done (especially parenting) and no one seemed willing to venture an opinion. Hell, maybe they thought I was doing a crappy job.
But ultimately, none of that matters, because I got OK with how I was handling the job. I commended myself for what I was doing well, and forgave myself for my failures.
What you may desperately need to be commended for may not be something that anyone else realizes or feels compelled to give you kudos for.
So why wait?
Why not pat yourself on the back and tell yourself you’re awesome?
Be honest with yourself. Figure out what you’re doing well and also get real about areas that need improvement. But when you see what needs to get better, don’t beat yourself up. Just work to fix it.
And then get back to singing your own praises. You don’t have to brag or be arrogant. You don’t even have to tell anyone that you’re awesome.
See your own awesomeness. All you have to do is believe it yourself. That you are awesome. Because you are.
Some of us may tell ourselves we are awesome just to get through the day. In the sense of something like, “Hey, you’re awesome, you can do this”! Just because we are saying it doesn’t me we are full of ourselves. For some, its a way to get through the day. Nothing wrong with that.
Nope, nothing wrong with that. You can believe you’re awesome and know your strengths without being full of yourself.