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Cherish
Yourself
...and watch incredible things start to happen
by Michelle Morris Spieker |
Somewhere along the journey toward living the life of
our dreams, we lost our way. We forgot the importance of
taking care of ourselves, of nurturing our soul, and of
filling the well in order to live the life we’ve been
longing for. Yes, somewhere along life’s path, we
forgot to cherish ourselves.
Roles in society are expanding more and more. We
strive to accomplish, manage, organize, direct, and star
-- all in an attempt to make our lives richer, fuller,
more meaningful. Yet as we look outward for fulfillment,
we are depleting the essential source of nourishment to
the soul -- the self.
Unfortunately, many of us are busy doing things
mostly for others, and as a result, we tend to neglect
ourselves. Some people might say it’s selfish to do
nice things for yourself. But what’s actually
dangerous is giving so much to others that we deplete
ourselves.
When we slow down and make giving to ourselves a high
priority, we are cherishing ourselves. Soon we begin to
have a glow about us. We start to have more energy. And
we make healthier choices in all areas of our life. When
we address our inner needs and nurture our authentic
selves, all areas of our lives improve.
After deciding to cherish myself, my life
miraculously transformed. I welcomed true love,
discovered my passion for working in the field of
personal empowerment, let go of struggle, and found the
courage to be my true self. I can look back now and say
that the twists and turns of life that led me to this
point all make sense, but I had a choice to make and so
do you. I could have continued on the path of not loving
myself and my life would have proceeded as a series of
events and dramas to painfully awaken my soul. What I
did instead was to make a decision to love and cherish
myself and a whole new journey of life began.
So take a moment, breathe, and decide to cherish
yourself.
The key to cherishing yourself is recognizing
that you are valuable, lovable and definitely worth
being cherished. Once you are ready to make this
decision for yourself, you will discover an inner
confidence that was trapped just behind your fears.
Be aware that there is a distinction between wanting
to cherish yourself and actually fully accepting that
you are worth being cherished. When you accept in
your heart that you are worth cherishing, from that
moment forward your life is enhanced.
Today whether I am working with a teenage girl
struggling with a poor body image, consulting a
75-year-old woman dealing with a joyless marriage, or
lecturing at a business convention, I am constantly
reminded of the enormous number of people whose desire
for a better life is blocked by a lack of knowledge
about how to love or cherish ourselves. Not knowing how
to love or cherish ourselves is the underlying issue
behind most of the challenges we face. It was for me.
I believe much of what our life presents to us is a
direct reflection of how much we love ourselves. So if
your life continually disappoints you or if you are
unhappy, it’s time to find out why.
It’s time to say out loud "I am worth being
cherished!"
Learn to discover your special gifts. It’s
important to learn to appreciate who you are. Recognize
your value, and it will enhance your life. It will also
help others appreciate you.
So behold your gifts. You can start by making a list
of things you like about yourself. The list may include
things from any and all aspects of your life -- your
smile, your eyes, your hair, your personality, your
laugh, your intelligence, your talent, your
adventuresomeness, your peace, your willingness, your
freedom, or your sparkle. Keep the list handy and look
at it often.
When you do nice things for yourself, you send a
message of love to the Cherished Self. This helps you
build a positive self-image, which in turn will generate
even more loving feelings toward yourself.
Make a list of ways to be loving to yourself. Think
of the things in life that bring charm, joy and pleasure
to your soul. Make an ongoing list, and place it in a
spot where the list will remind you to do something nice
for yourself on a regular basis. Start with 25 ways to
cherish yourself. Share the list with your partner or a
close friend and encourage them to help you do nice
things for yourself.
Set aside some time just for you. One of the greatest
ways to cherish yourself is to find time for yourself.
Block out time every week to do a separate special
activity. Refer to your list for ideas of what you’d
enjoy.
Now that you have begun cherishing yourself, you’ve
started the journey home to your true self. You’re
learning to connect to your heart. And as you get better
and better at cherishing yourself, you will become more
authentic, and feel more joy, fulfillment and passion.
Be an ever unfolding Cherished Self. Learn new ways
to be good to yourself. Follow your heart and be true to
your path.
And until we meet again, I wish for you a cherished
life.
Copyright © 2001
Michelle Morris Spieker
Michelle Morris-Spieker is an inspiring speaker,
respected visionary and author of "The Cherished
Self," a book that takes the reader on a charted
path to self-love and self-worth through the 15 steps of
the cherished self.
Formerly a corporate marketing executive and
entrepreneur Michelle knows firsthand the challenges
that we face as we strive for a life of balance and joy.
By learning to live authentically Michelle followed
her passion to work in the field of personal
empowerment. Most recently she served as the director of
marketing for Deepak Chopra. Today Michelle heads her
own personal empowerment organization, The Cherished
Self, dedicated to personal enrichment, balance and joy.
In addition to working on her new book, Michelle
frequently speaks to organizations and corporations, and
consults workshops.
Michelle has a refreshing and simple
approach to accessing self-worth. She’ll touch your
heart and ignite your soul with profound clarity.
Michelle authenticity allows individuals to access their
true selves and find a path to positive change. One of
Michelle's best assets is her passion for her message.
She feels honored and blessed to share the Cherished
Self concept with others. Her work is her passion and
she joyously accepts the challenge. Michelle can be
reached at (949) 388-7719 or www.cherishedself.com.
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