Seeing the Best in You: Part I

No matter what age you are, or what your circumstances might be, 

you are special, and you still have something unique to offer. 

Your life, because of who you are, has meaning.

~ Barbara De Angelis

Never go through life without affirming that you are special and unique. Nobody is like you. Anybody can be a parent but not like you. Anybody can cook but not like you. Anybody can be a friend but not like you. Anybody can laugh but not like you. Anybody can love but not like you.

Today, I would like you to think of how amazing you are, no matter what has happened in your past and  despite your insecurities and failures in the present. Today, I would like you to look at the best in you and celebrate your magnificence. 

Below are some qualities of the wonderful person that you are:

Authenticity. It is possible you have hidden your true self from others, once in a while. You might be afraid that others might not accept you for who you are and so you pretend you are someone you are not. But the best part in you is your real self. Your genuine self is unduplicated and this makes you special and unique. Therefore, you strive to be your real self.

Bravery. Every hurdle you have made, every problem you have solved, every trauma you have overcame has made you brave. Deep inside you is a courageous person, constantly slaying some some inner demons and fighting some external battles. You are unafraid to speak your mind, even if your idea is unpopular or controversial. You stick up for those who are wronged but do not let anyone be cruel or unjust to you.

Creativity. You have the inner resources to be a genius in your own way. You paint, write, take photos, decorate, and learn something new. You are ingenious, flexible, and original. You believe it is never too late to hone your creative self. Colonel Sanders began his franchise when he was in his 60s, Grandma Moses started painting in her 70s,  and Bill Taylor started drawing in his 80s. Right now, you might be at the cusp of your own creative genius. Whatever your genius be, you're doing it!

Curiosity. Your best self is fed with your curiosity. You try new things, learn new skills, and experience adventures you haven't had yet. Although it feels comfortable to be in your familiar surroundings, you sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, to try unchartered waters. You know there will always be something new out there to experience. 

Excellence. You strive to be your best, whether it is as simple as cooking a meal or as complicated as writing an annual report. Mediocrity is not part of your game plan. The drive for excellence emanates from within you, not from outside you. It is a striving for more, such that you become an outlier, in the context of Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers.

Fairness. You believe in fairness and equality. If you are wrong, you admit it. You make sure everyone in your family or group gets a fair chance. You don't want to take credit for somebody else's achievements but instead make sure that praise goes to the person who deserves it. You feel frustrated when you see others treated unfairly.

Forgiveness. You are not one to hold a grudge and revenge does not interest you. You do not intentionally hurt someone even though they have injured you in the past. You have the ability to let go of blame, anger, and frustration. You realize that forgiveness means canceling any wrongdoing that has been done against you and moving on in the right direction.

Gratitude. You feel that you are blessed, regardless of what has happened in the past. Even in the midst of hard times, you maintain perspective on all the good things in your life and feel lucky of small gifts that come your way. You appreciate people and what they bring into your life. 

Hope. You believe that circumstances will become better. It is a wish in your heart that good things will come, even if your surroundings are dreary. This quotation sums up hope for you: "Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible." You also know that it is when its darkest that stars appear their brightest.

Humility. You maintain the grace of humility, being aware that life is constantly changing. You realize that no matter how hard you work, there is no security in your today, more so in your tomorrow. Life can be taken at any moment, a misfortune can happen, and an event can turn your life upside down. You are aware that false pride is looking down on people while humility is looking with them and being with them.

Humor. When times get tough, you can still see what's funny in your situation. You have the ability to experience joy despite adversity. You have a gift of making people laugh to lessen tension. Humor keeps you sane and grounded.

Kindness. You have a feeling of good will to anyone or anything, including animals. Kind words, kind deeds, and benevolence show the best in you. For you, every act of kindness is a message from your heart to another heart, an unspoken "I care" statement. You use soft words and avoid gossiping, finding fault, and making negative judgements.

*********

Greetings, dear readers! This article is Part I of Seeing the Best in You. I hope you find this article resonating with you. Read Part II next week.

Don't forget to leave your comments below.

Meanwhile, enjoy your week!