Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 12

12. I have no regrets.
This one is simply a culmination of the previous eleven…

Follow your heart. Be true to yourself. Do what makes you happy. Be with who makes you smile. Laugh as much as you breathe. Love as long as you live. Say what you need to say. Offer a helping hand when you’re able. Appreciate all the things you do have. Smile. Celebrate your small victories. Learn from your mistakes. Realize that everything is a lesson in disguise. Forgive. And let go of the things you can’t control.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 11

11. I take full accountability for my life.

Own your choices and mistakes, and be willing to take the necessary steps to improve upon them. Either you take accountability for your life or someone else will. And when they do, you’ll become a slave to their ideas and dreams instead of a pioneer of your own.


You are the only one who can directly control the outcome of your life. And no, it won’t always be easy. Every person has a stack of obstacles in front of them. But you must take accountability for your situation and overcome these obstacles. Choosing not to is choosing a lifetime of mere existence.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 10

10. I have forgiven those who once hurt me.

We’ve all been hurt by another person at some point or another – we were treated badly, trust was broken, hearts were hurt. And while this pain is normal, sometimes that pain lingers for too long. We relive the pain over and over, letting them live rent-free in our head and we have a hard time letting go.


Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness, it causes us to miss out on the beauty of life as it happens. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 9

9. I know what unconditional love feels like.
Whether your love is towards a child, a lover, or another family member, know the feeling of giving love and not expecting anything in return – this is what lies at the heart of unconditional love. Life through unconditional love is a wondrous adventure that excites the very core of our being and lights our path with delight. This love is a dynamic and powerful energy that lifts us through the most difficult times.

Love is beautiful and unpredictable. It begins with ourselves, for without self-love, we cannot know what true love can be. In loving ourselves, we allow the feeling to generate within us and then we can share it to everyone and everything around us. When you love unconditionally, it isn’t because the person you love is perfect, it’s because you learn to see an imperfect person perfectly.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 8

8. I am good to those I care about.
In human relationships distance is not measured in miles, but in affection. Two people can be right next to each other, yet miles apart. So don’t ignore someone you care about, because lack of concern hurts more than angry words. Stay in touch with those who matter to you. Not because it’s convenient, but because they’re worth the extra effort.


When was the last time you told your family and close personal friends that you loved them? Just spending a little time with someone shows that you care, shows that they are important enough that you’ve chosen — out of all the things to do on your busy schedule — to find the time for them. Talk to them. Listen to them. Understand them.

Many times it’s our actions, not just our words that really speak what our heart feels for another.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 7

7. I am honest with myself.

Be honest about what’s right, as well as what needs to be changed. Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become. Be honest with every aspect of your life, always. Because you are the one person you can forever count on.


Search your soul, for the truth, so that you truly know who you are. Once you do, you’ll have a better understanding of where you are now and how you got here, and you’ll be better equipped to identify where you want to go and how to get there.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 6

6.  I am making my time count.

Time is the most valuable constituent of life.  Make the time for what does matter today.  Really being in the moment, finding passion in your life, seeing the world and traveling, or just seeing the world that’s around you right now, being with great people, doing amazing things, eating amazing food and savoring life’s little pleasures.

"Choti choti khushiyan" as most of us hindi/urdu speaking folks refer to it. The little happinesses of our life, they matter don't they? It's all the little things put together that make it all. I'd say that I haven't always made my time count, there are phases where I let time just slip out of my hands, and it may have seemed all for no good - but here I am now, and I'm able to look back and think, I mean, I did love the world and nature, but there were certain things I don't like that I did at that time, I'm learning from it today. Through it all, the one constant has always been striving to live in this moment. Sometimes doing that has made me put other things on the backburner, and maybe I shouldn't have, i.e. procrastinating, but I still try my best. I'm proud of the fact that I can actually appreciate things and what I've got, even if it's just a ray of sunshine.

Remember, your time is priceless, but it’s free. You can’t own it, but you can use it.  You can spend it, but you can’t keep it.  Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.  You really do only have a short period to live.  So let your dreams be bigger than your fears and your actions louder than your words.  Make your time count!

I've had two favourite dialogues from two favourite hindi movies since ever. One is "No byes Rhea, kyunki yeh zindagi bahut lambi hai" (No byes Rhea, because life is very long) and the other is "Kya pata, kal ho na ho" (Who knows, if tomorrow will come or not). The fact that they seem so at odds with one another, almost contradictory, does not go past my notice. I've always ruminated on this idea of two different ideas that are both so true, and yet so conflicting. Two truths don't make a lie, do they? The fact that they seem disparate shouldn't mean that one is more true than the other. I think it just reflects on the essence of life itself, that everything needs to be balanced.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 5

5.  I am growing in to the best version of me.

Judy Garland once said, “Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate version of somebody else.”  Live by this statement.  There is no such thing as living in someone else’s shoes.  The only shoes you can occupy are your own.  If you aren’t being yourself, you aren’t truly living – you’re merely existing.

I don't know about you, but I couldn't just be anyone else. Despite people mistaking me for someone else (cough cough) and my ability to understand others so well as to act like them (cough cough). I absolutely love being me. The sensation somewhat akin to wearing your absolutely favourite outfit; that's how I feel being inside my body, and thinking my own thoughts. 

Remember, trying to be anyone else is a waste of the person you are.  Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths and beauty like no one else.  Be the person you know yourself to be – the best version of you – on your terms.  Improve continuously, take care of your body and health, and surround yourself with positivity.  Become the best version of you.

There will be those times when you're sad, and likewise, those times when you're happy, but at the root of it all - there's that joy that it's all YOU. There are things only you can do, and not a single other soul could be able to think and do things which are so entirely you. You might not be good at many things, or you might think you simply suck at everything, but you know what, that's really not true. There is something about you that no one else can be - that's you.

 I'm not the best at doing a lot of things, but I try, and it's the joy of trying and learning new things and experiencing that makes me feel like I am living. Sometimes, really, it isn't the result, it's the experience of getting there. There are things I might want, and not get, and I'm learning to accept that. There are things that I get, and never expected, and I am learning to appreciate them. I'm learning where I go wrong when things go wrong. And I'm learning that you're never more right than when you learn from where you go wrong.  I'm learning, not just how to do things better, but how to be a better me. 

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 4

4.  I am happy and grateful.

Goooood morning world! I can definitely tell you that today I am extremely happy and grateful. :D I woke up late, and had to rush, but I definitely woke up feeling awake. That's a feeling worth feeling!

Happiness is within you, in your way of thinking.  How you view yourself and your world are mindful choices and habits.  The lens you choose to view everything through determines how you feel about yourself and everything that happens around you.

If there is anything I have learnt, it's that I hold onto the decisions of being happy and being sad. There are times you feel that it just happens regardless of how much you try, and of course it does, we don't just press a happy button or flick a switch, although at times, I know it seems that way. But usually, our state of mind is about how made up we are about our minds. We hold onto sadness or anxiety because we continuously dwell on that issue, or refuse to let go of whatever it is. I'm an annoying optimist at times, and it's so like trying to push an inflated balloon under water and keep it there, it just keeps bobbing up. However, when I do get sad, it's like that balloon has been popped, and I drown. When that happens, I tend to have to pull my pieces together again, and I try to reach for air again. Because, even while I am drowning, I know that there IS air to breathe just there at my fingertips - all I have to do is try. 

We hold onto these little things that pull us down, and its usually in hindsight that we recognize that these things are not, or were not, important. How does one let things go, though? I'm not sure how to explain it really. It's just believing that things will work out, that whatever you do have thus far is plenty - and more than others have. If it's worthwhile, it will remain and work out.

Being grateful will always make you happy.  If you’re finding it hard to be grateful for anything, sit down close your eyes and take a long slow breath and be grateful for oxygen.  Every breath you take is in sync with someone’s last.

As I've mentioned before a few times, I often just think of the little happinesses in life. A ray of sunshine, a refreshing drink, an inside joke with a great friend. Just one little thing that could be so much. I often think to myself, what the hell are you moping for? You have so much more than others have. Some don't even get the chance to feel or dream or wish for something else. You're lucky that you can. Don't dwell on negativity, because you're giving it power when you do, and that's what makes it stronger. When you think positive, it's amazing how much easier things become.

Things Your Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 3

3.  I am making a difference.
Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does.

Is it true that we all live to serve?  That by helping others we fulfill our own destiny?  The answer is a simple ‘yes.’  When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life.  Do something that’s greater than you – something that helps someone else to be happy or to suffer less.

Of course, this doesn't mean we always put others before ourselves, we shouldn't deny ourselves our sense of dignity and comfort with living with oneselves. But it's really true; when I do something that makes someone smile, I feel that my day has been worthwhile. I'm not sure where it stems from, but from a very young age, I was aware of this. Perhaps it's just attributable to the kind of person I am, I'm very sensitive to emotions, not just my own, and part of being an empath, and as I am told, a healer, I have this inner desire to actually help other people and strange enough, a instinct to actually heal. 

I remember one fuzzy memory when I was about 5 years old, and this was during the aftermath of a life-changing event, and our family were moving, and before I knew it I was told that I would be going to a new school. It's simultaneously vague and distinct, my remembering this. There was a girl who I had befriended, she was new I guess, and I believe she was from Russia or something. I don't really know, because, at that age, I didn't know then, obviously. But I felt this sense of "Oh no, what will happen to her, I am leaving her behind" and strong sense of protectiveness and responsibility. So I did what 5 year olds do best. I made her a goodbye gift. It was a bracelet made out of string and pop-can tabs. I wrapped it in newspaper and taped it together. When my father drove us to school to say goodbye, I walked up those steps in my fat snowsuit and said goodbye to the whole class, then gifted it to her.  To be honest, she looked a little like "Wtf  is this old thing?" but still, I felt glad. 

I don't know why I'm sharing that memory in particular with this topic, but that's actually one memory I've held close for a very long time, and somehow I feel it's one of the landmarks as my first "altruistic" act, of many that I have done. It goes back to the last post, being proud of who I am, and I feel truly good when I do try to make someone smile, or feel better, and without this, I don't think I'd be half as glad being myself. 

You are only one, but you are one.  You cannot do everything, but you can do something.  Smile and enjoy the fact that you made a difference – one you’ll likely remember forever.

Often, what we do might go unnoticed. We feel a lack of acknowledgement and accordingly we may stop. I like to know that someone smiled, or laughed, or felt somewhat nicer about themselves because of something I did. I don't need the thanks or gratitude that comes from whatever crazy thing I mightve done, I just like knowing it did what it should have. This is one thing that has always occurred to me, that in selflessness there is the greatest amount of selfishness. If making other people happy makes me happy, and that's selfish, then that just goes to show, it's okay to be selfish once in awhile.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself : 2

2.  I am proud of myself.

You are your own best friend and your own biggest critic.  Regardless of the opinions of others, at the end of the day the only reflection staring back at you in the mirror is your own.  Accept everything about yourself – EVERYTHING!  You are you and that is the beginning and the end – no apologies, no regrets.

It's true, I am me, and I am very proud to be me. I'm a little conceited in a self-preservation way, but then again, I usually just show it with people who need to be told off, or jokingly with the people who really know and understand me. There are times, though - I will be honest - that I feel that I don't know who I am, or I don't like myself. Obviously that's when I'm in an extremely low mood, and I'm stuck in a pit of gloom. I understand that much about myself.  I am me, but sometimes I need to apologize for me, because, and despite my supercool act of perfection, I'm not perfect. 

I think underneath it all, I'm so proud of myself, I get carried away and that's when I learn that I have so much more to learn. That's where the apology aspect comes in. I'm not apologizing for being me, I am apologizing for my behaviour, which stems from my thoughts and therefore is still part of me. 

See, I am totally my best friend and I'd say biggest critic, ... but I can think of someone else who can do that job, and does. :p But yeah, I know when to examine myself for flaws. Not always, but I'm open to the idea that I need to. Sometimes emotions get in the way (when don't they?), and I find myself reacting in ways I shouldn't or in ways I don't understand why. But I do try to do everything with a good heart, and I can proudly say I'm learning. 

People who are proud of themselves tend to have passions in life, feel content and set good examples for others.  It requires envisioning the person you would like to become and making your best efforts to grow.

During a conversation yesterday, the idea that "you cannot truly and completely love someone else until you love yourself" came out. On an aside, it's ironic, because later on last night, I somehow came across an image with that quote (not verbatim). I'm proud of myself, and part of being proud of myself is being able to become a person of strength and pride for those closest to my heart. 

 

Being proud isn’t bragging about how great you are; it’s more like quietly knowing that you’re worth a lot.  It’s not about thinking you’re perfect – because nobody is – but knowing that you’re worthy of being loved and accepted.  All you have to do is be yourself and live the story that no one else can live – the story of your own unique life.  Be proud, be confident, you never know who has been looking at you wishing they were you.

Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself: 1

Good morning world! I thought it was actually almost cold last night, and this morning I wanted to just curl back up in my blanket in the grey chilly morning. Since work beckoned, I grudgingly got out, showered, brushed, and told myself if I can't have my blankie then I'll have the next best thing. I dressed myself in comfortable cotton sweat pants, tshirt, and hoodie. Bliss.

Admittedly, I might actually be overdressed now. The sun is up and it's hard to believe that it actually was cold earlier on. But..oh well. I'm all snuggly, and therefore happy.

Anyways, today I did not feel like blogging again, I'm not quite sure where this writing lethargy is coming from. I mean, I wanted to, but I just was like ........ yeah more of the same "........".

What do I feel like doing? I feel like....dancing. Just letting go and feeling that magic and satisfaction of exact choreography. I feel like reading. Curling up with a really good book. Nowadays, I don't feel like reading a book without my newly enlisted reading buddy though. I mean, I do read, but I get restless again. I can't put my finger on the source nor the cure for this. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel sad. I'm incredibly content with  life as it is.

So, onto what spurred me into writing. Here I was, first thing in the morning, tending to the regular Monday morning protocol, and somehow I find this webpage regarding 12 Things You Should Be Able To Say About Yourself. Now I've got fodder to chew on, and will be going through these points post by post. So here we go...

1.  I am following my heart and intuition.

Don’t be pushed by your problems.  Be led by your dreams.  Live the life you want to live.  Be the person you want to remember years from now.  Make decisions and act on them.  Make mistakes, fall and try again.  Even if you fall a thousand times, at least you won’t have to wonder what could have been.  At least you will know in your heart that you gave your dreams your best shot.

I think if there is anything that has got me where I am it's because of my almost persistent stubbornness to follow my heart. As far back as I can recall, I've always been holding onto my "Dare to dream!" credo like a lucky charm. I haven't been so great with making decisions and acting on them, and there are times I've definitely screwed up. One of my old friends once said to me that I am very good at helping other people, but not with helping myself. That is true. I tend to put others before me.
"Even if you fall a thousand times" is something that's so definitely what I have learnt. I have trained myself to live without fear - I try, but I can't say I've actually achieved this. But then again, we have fear instilled in us for a purpose. Our amygdalas would be another appendix if we learnt to ignore fear. It's our survival instinct. I have learnt that the things I fear most are losing the people closest to me. Materialistic things I could care less for. I have learnt that I learn best when I do make mistakes. Throughout my childhood, when I needed to memorize something, I would jump right into the deep end and try to reiterate whatever it was. I would often take sheets of blank paper and try to put down the content I needed memorized as well as I could from memory. Then I would compare it to the original and correct myself. I did this repetitively until I had it perfect. I learnt better when I remembered where I erred.

I've also learnt to laugh at myself when I do fall. Literally and figuratively. There are times when my sensitivity snags on the cloth of apathy and I don't do such a good job of letting go.

Each of us has a fire in our hearts burning for something. It’s our responsibility in life to find it and keep it lit. This is your life, and it’s a short one. Don’t let others extinguish your flame. Try what you want to try. Go where you want to go. Follow your own intuition. Dream with your eyes open until you know exactly what it looks like. Then do at least one thing every day to make it a reality.

The fire that's been burning in my heart, at times I felt it would consume me entirely. At times when it was too hot for the space it needed, I believed that maybe it didn't belong in my heart. Some times I felt I would never find what it burned for and often felt I would extinguish it myself. No matter what, how often I told myself that it was gone, somehow I couldn't truly ever let it go. I guess that's applicable to following my intuition. Even when I tried ignoring it, it showed up all over the place like a ghost that would not disappear.

And as you strive to achieve your goals, you can count on there being some fairly substantial disappointments along the way.  Don’t get discouraged, the road to your dreams may not be an easy one.  Think of these disappointments as challenges – tests of persistence and courage.  At the end of the road, more often than not, we regret what we didn’t do far more than what we did. 

I've always told myself that when things get tough I need to get tougher. If there was anything worth gaining, I needed to get over the obstacles to show that I deserved it. It would only be my fault alone if I gave up before trying. I've fallen so many times, I can't even tell. But when I look back at the stepping stones I've jumped and wobbled over precariously, I am so very thankful to see the path I've taken that's taken me to here.