Loving Your Strengths, Loving Your Weaknesses

A person who has healthy self-regard does not inflate himself or negate himself. He sees himself realistically and says what he sees honestly. He is authentic about his own feelings and doesn't resort to false modesty in an effort to extract some praise. You could hear him saying in a straightforward way:

"I was really ON today. My words came to me easily and my ideas were flowing. I knew I was making the points I wanted to make, and that my listeners were really tuned in."

His speech has a certain factual quality. It is not arrogant, but has a courageous truthfulness to it. He is confident in a way that draws, not repels. It is a delight to be around someone who simply likes himself that much. What he could easily say about a friend, he says about himself. Another day he might say with the same unguardedness:

"I just couldn't seem to collect myself and get started. I forgot where I put some of my things, and then I had to retrace my steps several times. Then I locked my keys in the car. What a doofus!"

When a person who loves himself sincerely has something good to report about himself he can do it unselfconsciously. He doesn't doubt himself and he isn't confused about blowing his own horn. In fact the people that turn us off in their arrogance and self absorption are those who are trying too hard to hide how BAD they feel about themselves. And when the person who loves himself makes a mistake, he doesn't eat dirt, or apologize over and over