Healthy Weekend: Take Some Pride

Happy, happy Friday! I hope your week is coming to a nice close and you’re making big plans!!

So, one tried-and-true tip for being happier is to make a list every night of things you’re grateful for. I think this is a great tip, and I’ve definitely done it before. But a few months ago I read the book Nice Girl Syndrome (which I highly recommend, even if you don’t think of yourself as a “nice girl;” I don’t think there’s a woman alive who hasn’t failed to stand up for herself on occasion). One of the things she suggests is to make a nightly list of things you’re proud of.

Listing things you’re proud of can really help you build self-confidence and it can brighten your day. Suddenly you see it on paper and realize, Wow. I am fabulous. It can be anything from, “I didn’t hit ’snooze’ today,” to “I got my dream job.” And don’t worry about bragging. It’s for your eyes only! You have the right to brag! Women are constantly downplaying their accomplishments. It’s so easy to think “Oh yeah, but…” when you do something awesome. No no no, little one. You did it, and it felt good, so you need to celebrate it.

Try to list things you did for you — because yeah, you can be proud when you give of yourself or you make someone else happy, but really, be proud of the “selfish” things you do that get you what you want out of life.

Like so many things in life, good begets good. The more things I do that I am proud of, the more things I want to do that I can be proud of. Today you might write, “I told the waiter my soup wasn’t hot enough.” Tomorrow you might be feeling so empowered you tell your boyfriend the sex isn’t hot enough! Taking pride in the small stuff can help you go for the big stuff.

Today I am proud that I went to Michigan State University! Big game tomorrow…go green! What are you proud of?

Get it, girl!

Tagged as: confidence, Healthy Habits, Motivation Conversations, pride