Today I am thankful that I have never adopted the habit of speaking or thinking negatively about myself. To this day I still do not understand why people say negative things about themselves, why they so easily allow phrases like “I am so stupid,” “I never do anything right,” “I always mess things up,” and “there is no way that I will ever be able to figure this out” just roll off of the tip of their tongue as though those statements are as inherently a part of them as their fingerprints.
And as I sit here thinking about this phenomenon I realize that what gives me the greatest pause and fills me with the greatest concern, even more so than the fact that people say those things about themselves at all, is the fact that they say those types of things as though they are nothing. They berate themselves day in and day out with remarks that have at the very core of their nature the concerted purpose of tearing down, weakening, and crushing the very spirit of those to whom they attach. I sit here, thinking, wondering to myself why a person would ever do that to himself or herself. Does their incorporation of this practice stem from a desire to beat others to the punch by essentially kicking themselves in the gut before anyone else can? Or is it possibly that to them it is easier to “set the bar low,” or provide themselves with a built-in reason that they can use later to let themselves off of the hook if they do not succeed at something positive?
And the truth is, I have no idea why people speak about and think so poorly of themselves, and I may not ever know what the answer to that is. What I do know, however, is that every time that I hear someone referring to themselves in a negative way I find myself wanting to tap them on the shoulder and ask them why they are saying such negative things about themselves. And I also find myself thinking about how thankful that I am that I refuse to entertain negative thoughts about myself and refer to myself in negative ways. I am thankful that I understand the harm that referring to oneself negatively can cause, and that it is a harm that is not welcome in my life. #lovebythedrop
love by the drop 
wow – I am getting good at being fair with myself — you are blessed… count your blessing. I am grateful that I am mostly nearly very done with this harmful lie.
Thanks.
~ Eric
Thank you for sharing, Eric! I definitely do not take it for granted that I am able to make it a point to not say or think negative things to or about myself. It is something that I try to stay on top of too! I commend you for the effort that you exert and for the progress that you have made. Best wishes!