Ways To Foster Self Appreciation

Why we like to celebrate and thank other people for what they do and forget to do that to ourselves.

Author: Irakoze Gisèle

Me: Hello there! It’s me! It’s me again! You forgot to take time to thank me! Again!

Me again: Come on, is that really necessary?!

Me: Yes, yes, of course it is! You did a great job! Acknowledge that for once!

I don't know anyone who doesn't like to be appreciated. That's why we like to celebrate and thank other people for what they do! Unfortunately we always forget to do that to ourselves!

I know many people will say it’s pride taking over and that's okay. It is somehow right because I used to feel the same.

See, I am this person who was born in a family which somehow didn’t care much about what I would do, it is not under-covering myself with shame buh “where’s the lie!?”

We've all been there, or know someone who’s been there. The whole point of writing and sharing is never meaningful if it's not based on reality and most importantly the experience we go through every day.

I don't know if people we share with what we been through would choose to go through the same experience or just go another way around but facing reality of the world is among the bravest thing one would ever choose.

Okay, back to the story!

So, as I was saying, I grew up in a family that wouldn't appreciate me for what I did, but only focus on what I didn't do.

It's not to undermine their love for me but it’s maybe to accept our African culture and maybe as a future generation we might learn to change it.

I also think it was because I wasn’t the brightest kid among my siblings! I wasn’t the first in class. I wasn’t the entertainer. I was only this kid who was really stubborn.

So even when I would do a good thing I wouldn’t get a cheer up and congratulations because maybe it was only a once in a hundred years special thing I had done.

That really affected me. Growing up, I never thought I would ever do something that someone else would appreciate.

I tried really hard doing good things, helping people, sacrificing for others but it was never enough!

Even at my work place I would feel really bad and feel depressed because I was pushing myself hard to please others. I would feel deeply hurt when I wouldn't get what I was expecting from people for the work that I've done.

I love to evaluate myself a lot. I take time and learn from past experiences and embrace my negative sides that need improvement.

Deep down I knew I needed to change and somehow I was trying to change my mind and start focusing on self growth. I started taking steps. This is what helped me the most:

• Leaving the past behind and living in the present.

• Knowing and understanding my worth

• SELF APPRECIATION!

There is a big secret in self appreciation and listen, it is not an act of pride! It is not being less humble either! It is to acknowledge our own efforts and what we have done well. Self appreciation helps us to:

• Build our Self Confidence

• Be Less dependent

• Boost our Self reliance

• Be more visionary and self growth oriented

We appreciate ourselves not because we're better than others, but because all people have goodness in them.