I Am Number One
This is the foundation for everything! It’s where it all starts! It’s self-love… believing that you are worthy of your own unconditional love and admiration.
Not believing YOU are the most important person in the world is a slippery slope...
As a general rule, when you don’t practice self-love in a profound way, you can’t be as effective in life, let alone make an impact on other people, your community, or your organization. Following are some tell-tale signs you might want to turn a little attention on yourself:
You’re worried about what other people think.
Unable to “think on your feet”, problem solve, or make quick decisions in a stressful situation.
Your emotions are running high.
You’re short tempered.
Feeling depleted, overwhelmed, and exhausted.
You might not be connecting deeply with the most important people in your life.
Everything is hard… nothing seems to be going well.
When you love yourself and take care of yourself in a way that is commiserate with knowing you are number one, you have unlimited capacity to care for others, serve your organization, your community, your church… You feel energized and ready to take on the world, you’re able to lead effectively, love deeply, and you have the capacity to pivot seamlessly during difficult times. You are at choice, and you see the opportunity in what might otherwise seem to be a hopeless situation.
Start practicing with a little self-care. Here are some ideas:
Put the gadgets away and go to bed an hour earlier than normal.
Drink less coffee/soda, and more water.
Pick up meditation, yoga, qigong, or go for a walk.
Start a journaling practice (spend just 10 minutes every day with a “brain dump”).
Call a friend or mentor you don’t see often, but wish you did.
Start noticing things you haven’t noticed before (the details on a piece of art, the birds chirping, people laughing).
When you look in the mirror every morning compliment yourself on your eyes, your smile, the way you look…
You get the picture. Start filling your tank! When your tank is full or overflowing (even better), you have unlimited capacity for everything you want your life to be.