Confidence, Baby!

My daughter and I were playing a game where each card we turned over gave a "dare" to do.  My daughter drew a card that directed her to perform 12 sit-ups and every time she "sat-up" she had to finish the sentence, "I'm so _________" and fill in the blank.  This is what happened:

"I'm so awesome!"
"I'm so smart!"
"I'm so happy!"
"I'm so fabulous!"
"I'm so excited!"
"I'm so special!"

"I'm so adventurous!"

This went on for all 12 sit-ups. Every sit-up was accompanied by a positive description of herself. And enthusiastically, I might add.  She's nine. I pray she continues to believe these things about herself.  I sat wondering when this changes or why it changes......

I tried to say these positive statements about myself and asked some clients to do it and we all agreed....it felt .... unfortunately uncomfortable. I do know that if one thinks positive things about themselves, one will typically be more successful, more accomplished, and most importantly, one will feel more happy and peaceful. And most of us want that....peace and happiness.  So why can't we think nice thoughts about ourselves?  

I've discovered it comes down to practice. Everyone thinks you have to believe good things about yourself before you feel good about your own awesome self. Not true. Think or say nice things about yourself and you start to believe them. Then you start to feel them. Then you get to experience more peace. More happiness. Try writing out 5 positive self-statements and repeat them out loud every day, multiple times. Cheesy?... Yes! Can it work?... Yes! Try it for 5 days. See what happens.  As my adventurous daughter would say, "What do you have to lose?!!?"