Depression over losing a job or rejections at interviews and auditions can strike a hard blow to one's ego. Life is unkind to many of us at many stages in our lives, in some more than others. When we face these situations, we sometimes lose all feeling of self value. It's like being "in the valley." Renowned author Iyanla Vanzant in her book "The Value In the Valley," says “there is a purpose in these valleys.”
While you're there, you know that you need to get out. You've got to detour and find another way to get going again in attempt to reach and climb the mountain .While going through one of these stages recently, I was lying on my bed, and I looked straight ahead at a framed certificate on the wall. The certificate was in honor of my participation as a journalist, several years ago in an Investigative Reporting fellowship program organized by the United States Information Service (USIS.).
I then looked at another certificate which I had recently received at a Student-Tutor Appreciation Assembly sponsored by the Hillsborough Literacy Council. I was very touched when as a new volunteer tutor of only a few months in this literacy program, I received one of two Tutors of the Year Awards.
I then got a brilliant idea. I decided to relive some of my life-affirming moments in order to help lift my self-esteem. Life had thrown me its curveball many times before, and like Phoenix raising from the ashes, I had risen to fight again another day.
I started going through one of my suitcases. I looked through photo albums and envelopes with documents. The first thing I found was a middle page from a child's book, crushed and slightly aging but filled with love inside. It was a typical drawing by a child, of a mother and daughter, and entitled "Mummy and me."
I looked lovingly at the drawing and continued my search. I found Valentine cards, Birthday cards, Mother's Day cards from my daughter and from former colleagues with whom I'd worked, all filled with love and appreciation of me.
I started a folder “In Appreciation of Me” and decided to collect highlights of appreciation of my life. You too can find highlights to lift your life to the next level. Reliving life affirming moments sends signals into the body generating exceptional effects. It revitalizes and uplifts your spirit. It helps you to reaffirm faith in your own potential.
Footnote: I would be happy to read what highlights of appreciation were discovered by readers of this article.
