What Do You See?

I once saw a video of Dick Van Dyke dancing at 89 years young. What I loved about it wasn’t just how well he moved, but the youthful spirit that brightened the screen and my day.

We often judge people by their appearance. We notice age, race, accent, clothing, and more, then quickly form either a positive or negative judgment. Most people do this to some extent, including us.

The Inner Critic...

We look in the mirror, and depending on what we see, we judge what we can and cannot do. Most people at Dick Van Dyke’s age would say, “I’m too old to dance like that,” or “I’m too old to get that job,” or “I’m too young to get that promotion.” Maybe our self-talk is that we are too fat or too thin, or it might relate to our race or sexual orientation. Whatever we judge others by, we often judge ourselves the same way. This negative self-talk then becomes our true limitation. Imagine what we could achieve if we didn’t hold ourselves back with misconceptions about who we are. What if we stopped not only criticizing others but also ourselves? 

Are You Willing to Challenge Yourself?

I believe that what makes some people more successful than others is that they don't let what others think of them limit their actions, and they maintain a positive self-image.

In my own life, I haven't done something I wanted to because my negative inner voice told me I couldn't. Conversely, every time I've ignored that voice and gone ahead anyway, the results were always positive and often amazing. 

Just for today, try to go an entire day without judging anyone, including yourself. Wear a rubber band or some kind of bracelet on one wrist. Every time you catch yourself judging — of others or yourself — switch the bracelet to the other wrist. Please let me know how this works for you. It might lead to new opportunities, relationships, and adventures.

In One Spirit,

Arlene

Quote of the Week:

“How would your life be different if…you stopped making negative judgmental assumptions?”  -- Steve Maraboli

How often did you catch yourself "switching the bracelet"? Something to think about as the rest of your day/week unfolds! And please introduce yourself to me at the Unity Center of Pittsburgh when I speak in-person again on Sunday, September 14.