Stupid baby!

When my daughter was ready to start walking, my wife and I would help her stand up, take a few steps away and began clapping, cheering, and using what I can best describe as the voice of Mickey Mouse if he had just inhaled helium (The things we do for our children).

We were so excited. Every step, we celebrated. Every fall, we celebrated. We applauded and cheered and made fools of ourself for the smallest hint of effort.

What if we hadn’t though? What if we had taken a different position? What if every time she fell we yelled,

“Stupid baby! Come on! Whats wrong with you?!? Try harder!”

It’s barely even conceivable to imagine a parent doing that to their child. Especially when, the baby is trying it’s best.

But isn’t that what we do with ourselves all the time? We do the best we can and then we beat ourselves up.

We “stupid baby!” Ourselves all the time. We talk to ourselves in ways that we don’t even speak to our worst enemies. We demine, demoralized, ridicule, and diminish ourselves with our internal voice.

What would happen, if we began treating ourselves and speaking to ourselves like someone we really loved?

Like the baby, celebrating every effort applauding failure, advocating for and anticipating progress.

Take a moment, and think about the person you love more than anyone else in the world.

Now, make a commitment to treat yourself the same way you would want them to be treated. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to them.

He gentle.

Be kind.

Celebrate effort.

Applaud intent.

Because, before anyone else can love you, you must love yourself.

And after all, you are the only you that there’s ever been or ever will be. That’s worth celebrating.

✌️

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For more about me, visit Doug Stewart919.com

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Grammatical errors & misspellings complements of dyslexia : — )