Day 291/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
Such an interesting topic Sarah has raised for today's inspiration, the giving and receiving of compliments.
Basking in compliments is something we should all aspire to accomplish, she tells us.
It took me a long while to realise just how powerful a compliment is. Before this realisation I was probably stingy with compliments, or perhaps mindless of their value.
There's nothing more rewarding for the giver of compliments than to see a face light up with the recognition of acknowledgement of their talent, or wisdom, or value in whichever way they deliver it.
Recently while hunting through boxes of memorabilia my son found a poster I made for him when he was around 9 years old, of his talents and achievements. To see his eyes light up all over again after all these years was priceless.
One very real left over from childhood trauma for many people is the striving to prove themselves. When you witness this, tell them how amazing they are. It is likely that they have rarely heard this precious compliment and it will make their day, if not change their life.
And when you receive compliments observe what you do with them. Do you throw them away, give them back or make an excuse to cover them up or dull them down in some way? I've learned to simply say, thank you. That's about all the air I have in my lungs when I am complimented, so that's how I use it. I was one such person who spent too much time trying to prove my value. Healing takes time, and can happen one compliment at a time.
I make sure I find something to compliment my clients on each visit, to enable them to really celebrate their progress and achievements, their realisations and their adjustments or changes that make life more enjoyable.
Give more compliments. Begin with those closest to you, even if that is your pet. And if you walk by my home and hear me talking to my garden you'll know that I am telling it how wonderful it is.
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.