“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.”
– MARK TWAIN
An attribute is a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something. If I were to meet your friends or relative, what would they tell me about you? Will they say that you’re kind, smart and funny? Or, will they say you are insensitive, incompetent and dull?
It really doesn’t matter what people say about you. Again, what matters is what you think about yourself. Fred Rogers, an American educator, once said, “If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.”
Sometimes, we take for granted our talents and gifts, and let them go to waste because of self-doubt and low self-esteem. We doubt that we have what it takes. Sometimes, it can be hard to believe that our gifts or talents can make great contributions to the world.
You have something to offer to the world. People are waiting to read your book, listen to your song, see you dance, admire your art, hear your sermon, attend your lecture, receive your medical care or whatever else you have to offer.
Maybe, you failed in the past and you think you can’t succeed, but you must try again. Don’t let the failures of the past keep you from moving forward. View these experiences as learning opportunities.
Yes, we may have all failed at one point in our lives. Yes, we may have some weaknesses and things that may irk others, but stop focusing on them. Everyone has positive qualities no matter who they are. Acknowledge your positive attributes like the gifts and talents you possess. Focus on your strengths.
Think about at least one positive thing about yourself. I’m not talking about how you look like, but who you are as a person. How do you view yourself?
When people meet me, I would like to give them the impression that I’m a joyful, kind, peaceful, confident and intelligent woman because that’s who I am. I am all of these things and more. I may not be perfect, but I aspire to be a woman of excellence in everything I say or do.
I know a neighbor who is ambitious, cheerful and diligent. She always greets me in the morning with such an amazing energy whenever I see her. I know a friend who is forgiving, hard-working and graceful. She astounds me with her ability to easily forgive offenses. I also know a co-worker who is kind, loyal and compassionate. She always has a listening ear and can relate to anyone who walks through her office door.
Some qualities come easier to a few people than to others. I know I’m not quite the patient person that I should be, but I am working on it. Situations do come up, and they put my patience to the test, but I’ve learned to become more patient over the years.
If there’s a positive quality that you lack, you can always learn how to become it. For example, if you want to be kind, practice being kind through giving gifts, saying a hello, etc. If you want to be joyful, practice expressing joy. If you want to be forgiving, practice forgiving others who have hurt you.