Photo by Warren Talbot
How many times have you ever said that to yourself: A) every day, B) on a good day, or C) never?
This week I discovered a great little exercise to help you appreciate your strengths and use them to accomplish more every single day. Want to know what it is?
It is called the “I like who I am” game, and it was sent to me by Chris Haddad, a marketing and copywriting guru here in Seattle.
Essentially you take the role of a third party and talk about all of the things you like about yourself. It starts out fairly easy (I like my eyes, my hair, etc.), but after a while you get to the nitty gritty. Chris recommends doing this for 20-30% longer than you think you need to. That’s where the juicy stuff comes in.
Haddad’s Rules for the “I like who I am” game:
1. Open up a document or piece of paper. Up at the top, write “I Like Who I Am”
2. Start typing. Write “I like (NAME). I really do.” and then start writing out things that you legitimately like about yourself in the third person. Treat yourself objectively.
3. Doesn’t really matter WHAT it is. Could be physical (“I like my eyes.”)
4. No Wiggle Words . . . (I like my body except for my thighs which suck).
5. Focus on the positive. Be HONEST. Even when it feels uncomfortable.
6. Write until you run out of things to say. Keep writing even if you’re uncomfortable.
7. Notice how it makes you feel.
8. Keep it to yourself, or share the whole thing with friends and see what they come up with. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can post what you come up with as a reply to this blog.
Below is the video he made about the game, and this link will show you his results.
So, what did you come up with? And how do you think reading this every morning will affect how you go about your day? Post it in the comments if you like – that’s where you’ll find mine. And tell your friends about the game!
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Betsy Talbot writes about carving the lifestyle you want out of the life you already have. When she’s not writing, she’s paring down, saving up, and getting ready for a year of travel with her husband Warren.
About Betsy
I like Betsy. I really do.
I like the way her eyes crinkle up when she laughs. Speaking of laughs, she has a loud, happy one that makes me smile.
Her hair is strong and healthy, and she keeps it simple. She has good skin, probably because of all the water she drinks every single day. She has really strong fingernails that grow with hardly any maintenance. Betsy has soft lips and high cheekbones, and I like the way her dimples come out when she smiles. Betsy has nice breasts, and I like it that she is fairly modest about that and doesn’t show too much skin.
She is a loyal friend to her nearest and dearest and can be quite the lioness when her loved ones are in harm’s way. When she’s with someone, she’s there 100% – no distractions from cell phones, televisions, or scanning the room for someone more “important.” She’s generous with her time and talents and willing to help her friends at the drop of a hat. Betsy makes friends easily, though she is very selective about those she calls close friends. Betsy fiercely loves the people closest to her.
Betsy is really smart, and because she reads a lot she is knowledgeable as well. She can have conversations on many topics and has many interests. I like that she reads up on things that she disagrees with to keep her mind sharp, and I like even more that she has an open mind and sometimes changes it after reading a compelling argument. Betsy is incredibly curious, which means she is never bored.
Betsy knows what things make her unhappy or unproductive and designs her life to have minimal contact with those situations, no matter what other people think. She loves being around other people, but she also values her time alone and knows that this recharges her.
Betsy is a good writer and easily makes connections through her writing with other curious people.
She likes to go “in with both feet” in almost every situation, which makes her life more interesting. She likes to try new things. She likes to try a variety of different foods with different textures and has very few foods she dislikes.
Betsy is flexible and adaptable in many ways, and this makes her valuable in work, social, and crisis situations. She is good at motivating other people. She often leads by motivation and rallying teamwork than by acting as a boss.
Betsy is naturally positive and tends to create an air of positive energy around her. Other positive people are attracted to her, and negative people usually do not find the sympathy they are looking for and quickly leave her company.
Betsy is a good wife, anticipating her husband’s needs and freely expressing her own. She thinks of marriage as a partnership.
Mainly I like it that Betsy is filled with a positive energy that makes her life just a little bit better than circumstances say it should be.
Pretty good Ms. T. Glad to see you sharing all this…..quite the example you are; and definitely the most curious person I’ve ever met. You inspire me to inquire more.
I just wanted to say that I really like this exercise and plan on doing it, but won’t be posting here. It’s interesting that we can heap praise on the ones we love, but it’s so difficult with ourselves. I think it’s also harder as a woman, you’re sort of trained to be modest and always afraid of being “conceited”- that most terrible of insults from high school.
So good for you for going for it, and posting your results for your readers. I know you even better now.
Great post, and I LOVE the photo!
Oh, ladies. My curiosity has no bounds. Did I mention I attended the Seattle Hump!5 Amateur Porn Film Festival this weekend? Yep. There will definitely be a post coming out about that, and it won’t be sexy (you would be amazed at how funny the sexy Seattle filmmakers are).
Angela, thanks for the compliment. Warren took that photo a few months ago when I was trying to read a book. Somehow he edited my aggravation out. He takes some very good pictures despite my occasional reluctance!