Okay, at the risk of losing readers, here goes…and I ask that you read this through before you judge or dismiss me…

I have written that I start each day with “Good morning, sweetheart. I adore you, Lisa.” What I haven’t publicly admitted is that I don’t stop there.

At the risk of being seen as too full of myself – which is a risk I’m willing to take because perhaps admitting this will help one other person – I’ll tell you what else I say and do.

I continue with, “You are beautiful. You are magnificent. You are spectacular. You are strong. You are powerful…and powerless. You are light. You are love. You are beauty. You are joy.” And FWIW, I then say, “I am 100% cancer-free in my mind, body, heart, health, and soul, “and “I am living – and will live – a long, joyful, joy-filled, love-filled, easy, cancer-free life.”

Then I start my day.

Let me be clear, I in no way think I’m more beautiful, magnificent, spectacular, etc. than anyone else. I believe – I know – we ALL are. And I believe – I know – that many of us have WAY too hard a time owning this and living this. I see it in my clients. I see it in my friends. I see it in the world. I know it – or knew it – in myself.

Even my therapist questioned my practice at first – at least a little bit. I think she was concerned that I was somehow expecting too much of myself or setting myself up to be disappointed with myself or to fail. That it was too extreme, and I needed to be okay with just being okay. Which I absolutely am.

But, also, I pushed back – multiple times in fact – that I don’t see this as a measure I have to live up to. I don’t see this as a specialness about me. I am absolutely fine with just okay.

I don’t see this as pressure or bragging or narcissism. Except for maybe healthy narcissism.

As someone who was told the opposite about myself. As someone who was groomed to sacrifice and self-hate (and to mentally self-flagellate). As someone who was taught that I was sinful and broken and loathsome. As someone who has learned to rewrite and rewire these lies in my brain and who has only recently begun to truly, truly love myself. As someone who is reclaiming me and who believes – who knows – that every child deserves to know that they are magnificent and beautiful and lovable beyond belief…as does every adult. Every person. Every single one.

I believe these are all things that we can – and maybe should – say to ourselves. Until we love ourselves beyond comparison. Until we treat ourselves as we would our best friends. Until we care for ourselves as if our lives depended on it. Because, in my maybe not so humble opinion, they do.

Okay, now you can unsubscribe if you want to. If you disagree with me.

But either way, I do firmly know that we all are beautiful and magnificent and spectacular and all of that. And that we all get to know and live that.

I hope you do. Let me know what you think and how it goes.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and please share this post with others if it resonates with you!

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