Dear Sunday Sparker,
I wrote this a year ago, and I teared up reading it. I think it's worth a re-read.
One day, I will look back here and say I did the work. I showed up, never because I had to, but because I had to. There is no other way for me to be than to do this work, to show up for myself, for my mission, to share the knowledge I gain about the astonishing human nature, and elevate the understanding of my fellows on this journey, so we will use it to fine-tune our days and make them meaningful now, and not wait for vacations to feel good about our lives.
Yes, my message is all about achievement and getting after your goals, but this is not to say that your self-worth is tied to your achievements. You are valuable just because you exist. Believe that and let it sink into your bones. Believe you are inherently worthy, and let it be the springboard to your wildest ambitions.
Like you, I am still working on unconditional self-love and reminding myself I am loving and lovable, mistakes and all. Over the years, I have evolved so much that Self-Compassion has recently been my word of the year and continues to be a light in my darker moments. A significant shift happened once I really got the idea that self-compassion is not leniency but rather the way to keep going after falling.
In my experience, we are at our best when we are intentional about our dreams and deliberate about using the limited resources of time, attention, and energy. For that to happen, we need to do the inner work of self-love and acceptance, and the work you see here of consistently showing up, sharing, and leading others on the same path.
My question to you: What do you need to believe about yourself but still don't? What is the work you can't help but do? Even if you believe others have already done it, you still can do it. I am giving you the permission that you need to give yourself. People need to hear what you have to say and your unique perspective. The work is worth it, and so are you.