I once saw the following bumper sticker:
Don't believe everything you think.
I was stunned at its simple message. How many times do we think we know the truth about ourselves based on false information?
- Most of us, when we were children, believed everything our parents said. A recently laid-off client once told me that when he received a poor grade in 7th grade, his dad told him he would "never amount to anything." In his current anguish of being unemployed, those words have come back to haunt him. He now realizes that he has been operating with those low expectations of himself his whole life.
- A couple has "communication" issues. When either is critical of the other, they each take it personally and get defensive. When they finally figured out that they were taking the others' criticism as truth rather than opinion, their self-esteem strengthened and they were able to rid their discussions of blaming and defensiveness.
- A 40-something woman was repeatedly told she was fat by her weight-obsessed mother. She has always been within five pounds of a healthy weight and yet because of her mother's words, she realizes she sees herself as obese whenever she looks in the mirror.
Do you see yourself in any of these examples? Most of us believe what we think about ourselves is true. Yet, is it really? Self care may include an honest evaluation of what you think about yourself and an exploration of how those negative beliefs evolved. You may find that some were based on false information and it is time to figure out your own truth.
In a recent Ted Talk, Janine shares her inspirational story. It just may be something you, or someone you know, needs to hear.
A Broken Body isn't a Broken Person
