Do you want an ideal way to love yourself more? Then…
Approve of yourself!
This is part 4 of a 7-part series: Things Happy People Do.
Key #1 is Happy People Have an Open Mind.
Key #2 is Happy People Love to Learn.
Key #3 is Happy People Put Themselves First.
Key #4:
Happy People Approve of Themselves
What Does it Mean to Approve of Yourself?
When you approve of yourself you approve of everything you think, say and do. And everything you have ever thought, said or done.
Sure, we always learn from what we say and do, but don’t agonize over the past and allow it to spoil your future. Add it to your wisdom and move on with today.
If I’m challenging you today, that’s good, it will help liberate you. Everything you’ve ever thought, said or done is okay.
“The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique.”
Walt Disney
Keep Moving Forward Toward Your Dreams
Additionally, happy people also approve of their abilities and skills, and move forward in their life despite the need to further develop certain areas e.g. confidence, self-esteem, negotiating, interview skills… whatever.
Holding back because of doubt or hiding because of low self-esteem will never take you to more confidence, it just leads to frustration… it leads to unhappiness.
By contrast, it is through engaging in life that your skills develop as does your self-approval.
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
~~ E.E. Cummings
My Dream of Working Overseas
In the early stages of my I.T. career, at 22, I moved from South Africa to live and contract in London.
I had a yearning to work in another country, it wasn’t enough for me to travel; I wanted to experience the nitty-gritty of life in another country.
To my delight I discovered my ADABAS/Natural programming skills (… looong time ago!) were in short supply the world over, including England. A friend was heading there to stay in her large family home in Sevenoaks, Kent and invited me to tag along.
The trouble was that although I had experience in Natural programming, it wasn’t recent. But I was going no matter what, so there I was wildly revisiting my programming notes and studying for interviews. A few months later I flew to England, a little nervous.
Choose Your Destiny
This choice of mine completely changed my destiny, not that I knew it then. I now live in Australia instead of South Africa so that’s a clue. My point is that although I recognized the need for more experience, my opportunity to live in England arrived and I took it.
Where There’s a Will There’s a Way!
My first contract wasn’t easy; my skill level got a boost as my first project involved designing and coding a complicated program. Being paid big money added to the pressure so I worked like crazy – extra long hours without overtime.
My reward came a few years later upon hearing the company was still using that program. Point being, my skills never held me back and they inevitably became greater.
And Watch New Opportunities Appear…
During those 12 months several job offers arrived, including an unexpectedly big one. A contract in Australia along with temporary residence.
With that I was off on my next adventure.
What About Perfection?
Perfection is not why we’re here.
To evolve is.
Perfection is an empty and unattainable goal.
It’s boring – imagine if we were perfect – we’d having nothing to strive for. Everyone makes mistakes, we learn from them and everyone is growing in different ways.
Do It Now
If I’d waited until my skill-level was “perfect” before fulfilling my dream of working overseas, when exactly would I have been good enough?
“Believe in love. Believe in magic. Hell, believe in Santa Clause. Believe in others. Believe in yourself. Believe in your dreams. If you don’t, who will?”
~~ Jon Bon Jovi
Self-approval = Happiness
Self-approval puts you on target for the next key thing happy people do: taking action. It means you stop waiting for perfection, you approve of yourself as you are now and you move forward. You free yourself up to take action.
How Do You Start Approving Of Yourself?
Consider yourself a worthwhile investment. If you keep telling yourself that you have worthy contribution to make to the world, that you are someone worthy of happiness, then eventually you will believe it. That’s the truth so never give up.
So Remember…
You start to move in a new direction because these first 4 key things give you power and freedom. Actively use them and you will start to notice a new level of inspiration and enthusiasm about your life.
First 4 Things Happy People Do:
- Have an open mind
- Keep adding to your knowledge
- Put yourself first
- Approve of yourself
My book “How to Get Anything You Want – Just Like That!” teaches these keys and many more. Visit Amazon.com (Kindle also available).
Also Read:
Key #1 Happy People Have an Open Mind.
Key #2 Happy People Love to Learn.
Key #3 Happy People Put Themselves First.
Key #4 Happy People Approve of Themselves.
Key #5 Happy People Take Action.
Key #6 Happy People Create in Their Own Unique Way.
Key #7 Happy People are Grateful for What They’ve Got.
More Related Posts:
10 Reasons Loving Yourself Gets You What You Want
How to Stop Criticism… Going Out and Coming In
To make it easy for you here’s a List of All Posts
Reviews
Reviews of “How to Get Anything You Want – Just Like That!”
This is Janet Poole; I believe in finding better ways to live your life and grow your business.
I love sharing those ideas!
Better Ways. More Freedom.
janetpoole.com 
Very good read and like your thoughts about perfection. Perfection is an illusion that prevents too many people from taking action and consumes too much energy for others.
Great to hear from you Mike, yeah perfection could be a book on it’s own! Like what you’re doing with your site too – I agree don’t wait for tomorrow, live right now.