The other day I found myself looking at this picture of me and my dad. This picture was taken about 10 years ago. I found myself not scrutinizing the picture to see how much younger I looked or thinner I was. Instead I was looking at the smile on my dad's face. He was always so happy to spend time with me. He was so so proud of me. As I looked at the picture I found myself thinking man, I wish I could see myself the way he saw me. If I were only half as proud of myself as he was of me I would be so much more confident. It's a shame that most of us do not see ourselves the way our loved ones see us.I know I am not alone.
My challenge to you and myself is to take a few steps back to view yourself more joyfully. Take a few steps back from the microscope of self criticism through which we see ourselves. Turn down the volume on the negative self talk. Stop zooming in on imperfections and focusing on mistakes. Instead, lets see ourselves more often through the lens that our friends, family, and children view us. What would you see?
