There's a big bad Grinch in our midst...
He's sneaky, mean, and likes to pick on people like you and me.
And, he goes by many names:
- I Never Finish What I Start
Do you recognize the Grinch that's hounding YOU in this list?
Since you can't just beat him up & make him go away, what CAN you do?
Judo
Say what?
Judo. You know, use your foe's mass & energy to bring him down.
That's how little pipsqueaks can bring down big bullies twice their size.
If you can't out-muscle 'em, use theirs against them.
That's how you deal with the Grinch. Take all of that energy and fear that he pounds you with and turn the tables on him.
If he says you can't say, "So what, at least I'll try".
If he says you're not smart enough say, "I'm not an imbecile and this isn't rocket science anyway".
If he says you're not good enough say, "That's not my place to decide that. Only God can say who's good or bad.
If he tells you that you never finish what you start say, "Well, I have started things and didn't finish them but I can change that!".
If he tells you that you don't know how say, "Well, I'm not an imbecile and I can learn".
If he tells you that you're a fraidy-cat say, "I'm more afraid of being broke and you've been holding me hostage--I'm breaking free!"
What's the difference between people who succeed and those who don't?
A lot of it has to do with the messages you've been fed all your life. Starting with parents, teachers, other kids, then yourself. We pick up verbal and non-verbal cues about our self worth and then repeat those messages to ourselves over and over and over even after the original source of those messages is long gone.
Some people seem to skate through life like they're floating on a silver-lined cloud. It appears that everything they touch turns to gold. Is this really the case? Well, yes and no.
Some of these people had to overcome enormous adversities while growing up and learned to be self-sufficient. Scratching and clawing for even the most basic things they learned to be fighters. You know, the school of hard knocks.
Some of these people had very supportive people surrounding them so they feel confident in their abilities. And, with each success their self-esteem is strengthened even further.
So, if you fall somewhere in between these two groups does that mean you're branded for life? Of course not. You have choices. Not to say that it isn't hard work. It's very very hard to quiet the negative messages in your head. But, you CAN do it! Just like you can turn up the TV or Radio to drown out unwanted noises, you can turn up the volume on positive, encouraging messages to yourself.
If you don't know what to say to yourself in place of the negative messages then write down the kinds of things that you have heard that encourage you and practice with those. Grab someone here on the forum that you're comfortable confiding in and ask for their help. A good friend won't berate you for needing genuine support.
Probably the most important things to remember are:
YOU are unique. YOU have talents that are your own. You may not have developed them so start now.
NEVER compare yourself with anyone else. There is always someone you can learn from and someone you can teach.
It's not a crime to be imperfect in an imperfect world as long
as you constantly strive to do better.
~Karen
Topic: What's Weighing YOU Down? (Read 5055 times)