Relentless Pursuit

Identify strengths that you carry

Thinking through varying strengths that you individually have and bring to the table in any sphere you enter into whether that is in relation to family, work, school, or volunteer opportunities. So then the question is, how do you even come up with these? Here is a short list that you could pick from:

• Creative
• Smart
• Loyal
• Vulnerable
• Genuine
• Open-mindedness
• Honesty
• Brave
• Humor
• Spirituality
• Confidence
• Ambitious
• Independent
• Optimistic
• Adventurous
• Empathetic
• Curious

Create a list of small successes you had within this past week

Reflect on this past week and think of small wins that you may have had. This may include:

• Getting a compliment at work
• Completing a task (chores, yard work, paying bills)
• Uplifting conversation
• Connecting with a good friend or family member
• Having your favorite meal
• Finishing an assignment (for those in school)
• Making your bed

Describe five things that you are thankful for

It has been proven that gratitude journaling is a creative and therapeutic avenue to express the joy you are feeling. Even if this week or even this past month has been filled with sorrow and sadness, there is always some small thing we can be thankful for. Some of those may include:

• The sunshine
• Your pet
• The first sip of coffee in the morning
• Ability to buy groceries
• Having a car that works
• Being able to work from home
• The ability to walk
• Career or a job that earns a paycheck

Identify when you feel the best about yourself

Brainstorming when you feel confident can increase your self-esteem because you are reinforcing your thoughts through ways that others have identified those traits within you. Here are some questions to consider to identify when you feel the best about yourself:

• When have you recently felt competent?
• Who is someone in your life that is encouraging? What are some things they have shared with you that they appreciate?
• If your mother or father were standing in front of you, what uplifting traits do you think they would describe you as?
• What are some of your talents?
• When was the last time you felt confident while at home?

Create a list of attributes you find desirable within others you are close to

Research has shown that, the top five individuals we surround ourselves with, we become most like. Or the quote goes like, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. This quote if fairly accurate because the more we are around individuals and the characteristics they carry, the more likely we are to resemble those qualities as well. Additionally, if individuals may not be really be a positive influence, these traits as well will shape who you are. The importance of social relationships is key in forming and molding who we are as individuals personally. Listing out some traits you find as desirable can boost your self-esteem, as you think through those attributes that you may be subconsciously picking up simply by being around them.