Do any of these sound familiar?

Are you used to putting yourself down? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us tend to be self-critical, making statements about ourselves that make us feel worse and blind us to our many positive qualities. And our strengths can become even harder to acknowledge when we are going through a difficult time.

One way to learn to see yourself in a more balanced manner is to make a list of your positive qualities. Think of all the things you like about yourself.

Are you smart? Kind? Creative? Loyal? Funny?

What would others say are your good qualities? Include any talents, skills and achievements.

Go ahead and list 10 of your most positive qualities!

“You have to choose whether to love yourself or not” (James Taylor)

Now have a little think…

Was it easy or difficult to name your good qualities? What made it easy or difficult? Are you surprised in any way? Are your qualities mainly about your appearance or about your personality? What does that say about your perception of yourself? Are you comfortable sharing your good qualities with others, or are you afraid of being perceived as arrogant?

I hope this exercise gives you food for thought. I would love to hear your reflections or answers to some of the questions raised. If you feel inspired to share, please do leave a comment below.

Photo: Johnhain/Pixabay