Applaud Yourself

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"When you are able to applaud yourself, it is much easier to applaud others.".... Denis Waitley

Any positive is much easier to dispense if you have it on hand and know the benefits firsthand. Selling what you truly believe in is almost effortless and belief in your own worth begins with worthy actions. And any success at something worthwhile deserves a bit of praise. There is no shame involved, although we often add it to the equation.

Encouragement should begin at home, but it rarely ever does. We criticize ourselves more than we ever congratulate. And most of us are much harder on ourselves than we ever are on anyone else. Why we bend over backwards to excuse things in other people that we condemn in ourselves is a mystery to me. Giving at least the same measure of respect to our own efforts seems a much wiser formula to make the world a better place.

At first glance patting our own back may seem to be a tool of conceit, but if our intentions are pure and our deeds worthy then ego isn't involved. Egotism is defined as: 1- An exaggerated opinion of your own importance.    2- An inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others. Saying well-done to yourself validates your own efforts... it's not the same thing at all. Validation feels good and inspires even more effort to deserve another dose. A dedicated know-it-all doesn't have to do more than breathe to think themselves worthy of praise, while everyone else must work their way toward their own high fives.

Egomaniacs are abnormal. No amount of praise ever satisfies their cravings. Right-minded people hesitate to self-praise for fear of being thought to be in the same class. But a person with any class at all would never cross that line. Giving yourself a pat or two makes a real difference in our understanding of how well any encouraging words aide in the quality of this journey. A bit of respect given to yourself makes us more respectful of others.

Paying it forward is the next step. Once centered we humans can create miracles with the hands up we give one another. But it all begins with what we give ourselves. Applaud when you deserve it and do so as loudly as you would for anyone else. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then you decide!!!!