How to Be Your Own Best Friend
Copyright 2006 Daniel N Brown
What do you think about yourself? How do you view the real you?
When you look into the mirror, what are you thinking? Do you
think things like, you're a winner, I'm proud of you, I love
you, and I believe in you. Or, are you thinking things like,
you're a failure, you're stupid, or you're ugly? What things do
you say to yourself on a regular basis?
Self-talk is vital! We spend more time with ourselves than
anyone else in the world. That's why we have to be our own best
friend. We live in a fallen world and there's already too much
in life that is against us anyway. We don't need to be beating
up on ourselves too.
You may find it easy to speak garbage to yourself because maybe
that's all you've heard all your life. Those tapes in your brain
just keep playing over and over. You may feel completely
worthless because of all that. But, you are NOT worthless! God
created you in His image, and with a purpose. God is perfect in
all His ways and does not make junk.
We tend to kick ourselves when we do something stupid because we
feel like a failure. But, a friend never kicks a friend when
he's down. Why should you kick yourself? There is never an
excuse to put yourself down! Besides, failure is an event, not a
person!
Let it be known that there is an enemy who is like a roaring
lion that roams around seeking whom he may devour (John 10:10).
He doesn't need any help.
A lot of us haven't heard positive things from our parents,
family, or those we've spent a lot of time around. So, what we
weren't able to get from them, we have to give to ourselves.
Look in the mirror. Tell yourself that you really and truly love
yourself and that you really and truly forgive yourself for all
of your shortcomings. Give yourself permission to make mistakes.
After all, you are only human. Tell yourself that you believe in
yourself. You're gonna make it and God is on your side, and if
God is for you, who can be against you (Romans 8:31)!
It will feel really awkward for a while until you get used to
hearing and seeing yourself speak to yourself this way, but it
works. Your self-esteem will improve dramatically!
Most people don't realize that a lot of the reason why we feel
the way we feel is because of the way we think. Our thoughts
produce our feelings. You will obviously perform much better
when you feel good about yourself than if you keep thinking
you're a failure.
If we're ever going to be successful in life we must love
ourselves. We must feel deserving of success in order to have it
and enjoy it. We must be our own best friend and love ourselves
before we can love anyone else (Mark 12:31). Besides, God loves
you, why shouldn't you?