Many years ago, I showed my neighbour our newest family photo, complete with three kids and two dogs. She commented how nice everyone looked, just like a good neighbour should.
I pronounced that I liked how everyone looked except myself.
Then she said words I have never forgotten. “Steph, I hate to tell you this, but that’s how you look.”
Ohhhh. Wow. Ouch. That’s how I look. Even if that’s not how I want to look. That’s how I look. Oh.
That message she not so subtly sent me, was the beginning of a big change in my self-perception.
If that’s how I looked, what would happen instead of being disappointed, discouraged and unhappy every time I saw myself, I just accepted and embraced how I looked?
What if I changed my perception to that of gratitude instead of dissatisfaction?
What would change if I did that?
Apparently everything.
Everything changed.
It hasn’t been easy, and I’m not always accepting of myself, but for the most part, I’m much, much better and much, much happier. And strangely enough, I’ve never had so many compliments on my looks since I started feeling better about myself.
A nice bonus to be sure.
Accepting your perfectly, imperfect self, it’s just one more way to live Your Life, Unlimited!
