Today’s Mandala Message: Appreciate Yourself
This week I’m working through Principle #53 “Practice Uncommon Appreciation”. I set my intention today to ponder appreciating myself. Canfield states: “I want you … for the rest of your life … own the magnificent being you are, the positive qualities you have, and the wonderful accomplishments you have achieved.” This one is a challenge for me. I grew up in environment where we weren’t allowed to be proud of ourselves…we were told “no one likes a braggart.” I’ve since learned that there is a difference between being proud of yourself and bragging. Appreciating myself falls under this same category.
After 10 months of preparation, on October 1 in a 30ft downtown store window, I put up a huge mandala display of all my MotDs from 2002 along with two large mandalas, 13 other mandala pieces, my mandala meditations stones, and my five newly created mandala oracles decks. Afterwards, I had a friend ask me how I celebrated this achievement. It hadn’t occurred to me to celebrate. I think I spent a couple of minutes scrutinizing and then admiring it, and then I went home. For the first week or so after I was mostly in a “well now what” state.
So right here right now, I’m going to allow myself to appreciate this huge accomplishment. I appreciate that I spread out the preparation over these last 10 months. I appreciate that I took a methodical approach over time and was able to reach all my objectives along the way, in a mostly stress-free way. I appreciate that even though it took me 6.5 hours to set it up, I was able to stick with it without slacking off or compromising my vision. I appreciate that when I set a goal for this project, I followed through on all my tasks. I appreciate that when I needed it, I reached out for help. I appreciate that I didn’t disappoint myself or the store whose window display space I used for this display. There’s probably more, but this is good for now.
A good mindfulness practice would be to ponder what you appreciate about yourself.
So how about you? What do you appreciate yourself? Do you appreciate your gifts, skills, and talents? Do you appreciate the qualities that make you you?
“Every morning,
— Debasish Mridha
appreciate the golden glowing sun
for giving you life.
Every evening,
appreciate yourself
for making the world
a little more joyful
with your lovely presence.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 