Do you like who you see when you look in the mirror?
Posted on February 01, 2012 by Derek Sleater Cook, One of Thousands of ADD ADHD Coaches on Noomii.
How comfortable are you in your own skin?
When will you ready to start living your own dream and not somebody else's?
I mean really, do you enjoy waking up in the morning to face your life or do you sometimes find yourself wondering, “How am I going to get through another day as I arduously attempt to pretend that I’m somebody else?” That somebody that my parents, my friends, my neighbors or any number of people in my life, for any number of reasons, keep telling me what I NEED TO BE!!!
Maybe it’s just me, but I spent many years as a perfect perpetuation of an in-public people-pleaser, painfully performing in a play that was in no way, part of my own plan!
It was asphyxiating, excruciating and was, in my opinion, the major contributor to 18 years of self-medication.
In 2001, I wrote down the following New Year’s Resolution:
“Whether I am still self-medicating or not, I am going to like myself.”
Making that declaration was very empowering for me and the first step to discovering who I truly was and progressing towards self-acceptance.
In 2005, I became particularly fond of a quote and two songs:
“To thine own self be true.” – William Shakespeare
This is a very well-known, and oft-quoted line, but not so prevalent in practice.
Shakespeare’s quote constantly reminded me that it to myself that I most needed to be faithful. Not in neglecting my respect or care for others, but in realizing that by first respecting and caring for myself, I would have that much more to offer the world. “Showing up” for myself preceded “showing up” for work, a relationship and my community.
“I gotta be me.” –sung by Sammy Davis, Jr.Every time I listen to Sammy sing this song, I get this intense, intuitive hit that he “gets it!” I sang this song over and over again, at the top of my lungs (mostly with the windows of my car securely rolled up).
I feel incredible joy to be at peace with myself and I have immense gratitude for each and every experience that helped to create who I am, because I kinda like that guy! And liking myself was the foundation of shifting of energy of needing a relationship to wanting one which allowed me attract the same!
Now I am not suggesting that William, Sammy or John are parts of the key to unlock YOUR prison cell. I am suggesting that you DO have the key, and it is waiting to be discovered! Listening to the songs may be useful, only you can decide that. But first, make your declaration to the universe! Start right now, by writing it down and beginning or continuing your progress towards liking who you see when you look in the mirror!
