As Yourself

If you’ve been to one of my live events, you have experienced the power of the label exercise. I have seen it shift and change lives in massive ways. While I can’t recreate here on paper, I can teach you the principles learned from it.

I’m sure you have heard the phrase – Love Your Neighbor As Yourself. Yes?

I just felt the groan that usually accompanies that statement and you’re not even in the room with me. That is how powerful that saying is. It is used to elicit a response from us.

I remember hearing it as a child when I had done something an adult disapproved of.

Then I carried into my life as a club named Guilt to beat myself with.

How about you? Got any Guilt clubs laying around. Did you give yourself a smack with it today?

I invite you to look at that shibboleth with different eyes. Think about the entire word grouping. Not just the first part. Put the emphasis on the last two words. As Yourself.

Think about the things you say to yourself while applying the Guilt club or any number of clubs we use to bully ourselves. Would you say them to someone else?

I heard that one too.

A resounding “NO! I would never say that to someone else. I’m a kind person.”

“Than why are you saying it to yourself?” I ask.

If you won’t say it to someone else, why would you talk to yourself that way? The avowal ends with the words AS YOURSELF. (Capitals added by me for emphasis.)

I invite you to start being nice to you. You are amazing. You are special. You are needed in this time and space.

I invite you to be brave enough to love yourself.  Exercise your courage muscles by being tender and loving toward you.

Have an absolutely fabulous day and bye for now,