In February I did a devotional in the Bible App called, "21 Days of Gratitude". I always enjoy the devotionals that not only have reflection questions, but that challenge you to journal your answers and list things out.
I was going back in my journal and found an entry that caught my eye. It was titled "Celebrate You". That day, I had to list out all the things I love about myself. Key word here, love. Not like. Love. Big difference. And then I had to list "What things about me drive me crazy?" Ha. I loved how the author of that devotional posed this question. What things about yourself, drive you crazy?!
I'm going to share my answers with you soon, but I challenge you to answer these same questions sometime today. Don't wait. Do it tonight before bed, if you can't right now. Otherwise, you'll forget!
Here it goes.
Things I love about myself:
1. I'm a good friend
2. I'm positive
3. I'm a motivator, ambitious, loving, caring, and conscientious (I know this is more than one - but this is how I wrote it, so I'm being honest!)
4. Jesus lover
5. I believe in justice and doing what is right
6. Don't like to lie
7. I don't give up
8. I trust in the Lord and in others (some call me gullible, I like to say "I trust people!")
9. I want to help people become better
10. My Ministry
11. I can multi-task
12. I'm loyal
13. I have a "less is more" mentality
14. I believe that dreams are possible
15. I'm a good cook
16. I love my hair
17. I'm not materialistic
18. I'm a good dancer (ha! don't laugh at me. But in my eyes, I am!)
19. I'm a "people person"
20. My Portuguese culture
Now, here comes the "What things about me drive me crazy?" (it's not easy to admit some of these!)
1. I want to do too much sometimes
2. I have high expectations of others (which in turn makes me have high expectations of myself....more pressure on myself to be "all the things"....)
3. I tend to take things personally AND overthink things!
4. I want people to like me and think I'm beautiful (learning to let go of this one!)
5. I focus too much on thinking I have to be skinny to be happy and beautiful (continuously working on this and getting free!)
6. Fear of losing money (old beliefs because of past experiences!)
7. My pride with my husband and family sometimes
8. I sometimes zone out when others are talking to me and I feel like I'm not the best listener at times
9. Sometimes I get stuck on things having to be a certain way or MY way
So. Now, your turn. I challenge you to write 20 things that you LOVE about yourself. Let go and just write. Don't overthink things. Let it flow and don't judge your answers. Same goes for the things that drive you crazy about yourself - don't overthink, don't judge.
Now, here comes the gratitude part. Be thankful for your strengths and weaknesses. They make you who you are! At the end of your reflection, I want you to say and DECLARE!! "Both my strengths and weaknesses are part of God's great design!!"
You are God's good idea, my friend. And all that you are is part of His great design. The verse says "WONDERFUL are your works." You are his work, his creation. YOU are wonderful. Celebrate you and recognize the things you may want to work on. Pray about them and surrender them to the Lord - the One who can restore and repair all things.
Be blessed!
