Singing My Praises

There is a recorder app on my phone. I use it for all kinds of things such as the cacophony of frogs in a nearby wetland in spring, the coyotes yipping in the woods, ideas for a project, along with affirmations or words of wisdom, whether that be recorded from someones podcast or youtube or some powerful words in my own voice. Just the other day I was going through my recordings and listening to a few when I played one I had forgotten I had done over two years go. It was singing my praises about big things accomplished over the prior several years. 

It brought me back to that moment when I paused to place my full attention on appreciating what I had accomplished in the recent three or so years. I really had not been giving myself full credit for the big things that I had made happen, dismissing them too easily while focusing more often on the troubles I still encountered.  So, at that time, I decided to record something rather different from what I had done before and I highlighted all the big things I had brought forth, accomplished, improved upon and continued to do. How much I had grown and how far I had come. I praised the bravery and strength, trust and action taken, offering gratitude and appreciation to myself, in my own voice. It was deserved. It was true. And just yesterday, I realized I had forgotten to listen to it but once in over two years!

What a treasure to find! It was a blessing that I thought to recorded it in the first place. And while I have given myself more credit for these big things since then, I was surprised I had forgotten about this recording and was not listening to it on occasion. But at the very least, I found it again to appreciate anew. And to see that I was doing a better job appreciating myself, loving myself more easily and continuing to trust myself and life to unfold in beautiful ways.

If you were to look at a friends life and point out to them all the wonderful things they had accomplished or handled, or how they had touched others, or helped selflessly during tough times or any number of things, what would you say and how would you say it? Could you be that friend to yourself? Record - verbally or in writing, appreciations and acknowledgments, gratitudes and kudos, toward yourself as if you were a loving family member, friend or even a neutral witness. Then make a point to re-read or re-listen to it now and then or when you need a pick me up. It is good to remind ourselves how far we’ve    come, or how brave or bold, or undaunted etc. as we continue to show up in life. And sometimes we are too quick to dismiss our accomplishments or even our goodness as a human being. Let’s stop that! 

Let me know if you already do something like this, or if this is the first time, how it feels or how it went. Are you able to really hear it in this way? Can you hear it better from your own voice rather than another's, or is it the opposite? What a wonderful simple and free gift we can give ourselves. Let’s make an effort to be a better friend to ourselves and it will undoubtedly ripple out into the lives of those around us. Why not give it a try!