Ready to like yourself a whole lot more?
Before going to bed get out your journal and create two columns. The column on the left is entitled “Did Wells.” The column on the right is entitled, “What That Says About Me.”
Think of your day and list in the left column everything that you did well that day. These can be simple things like remembering to take your vitamins, giving yourself plenty of time to drive to work or finishing a project on time. The list can also include the larger successes like initiating a difficult conversation with a loved one, enrolling in night school or making a long prepared for presentation at a team meeting. Once you’ve got your list, now it’s time to look at the right column. For each item in your left column, ask yourself this question: If a person does that activity, what does that say about her or him?
So, for instance, if a person remembers to take her vitamins, what does that say about her? In the right column will be your answer. It could be one word or a few words like “responsible” or “healthy.” If a person enrolls in night school, what does that say about him? Perhaps it would say, he’s ambitious, forward thinking or courageous. After a few minutes, you will have a list of wonderful qualities about yourself.
Over the course of a few weeks, you’ll begin to notice certain qualities keep coming up. You’ll realize that you must be very organized, articulate and diplomatic. Your Did Well lists told you time and time again! Or maybe you’ll realize you have a great sense of humor, are kind and are great with numbers. Once again, it’s your Did Well list that makes that clear.
And these great qualities that you learn about yourself aren’t the result of egotism or bragging, they’re simply facts about you based on your behavior. See the magic of this technique? You will know the truth about yourself – that you’re a pretty talented person with many great attributes and strengths.
I have used “Did Well” lists for months at a time and have watched my self esteem blossom. Enjoy the beauty of who you are by noticing what you do well every day.
