The Parable of the Drawer

Okay y'all, I have been thinking a great deal about what to write about next. I have talked with people a great deal lately about how to be happy day to day. I agree that having positive self-esteem and living happily day to day are not always synonymous. I would like to quickly point out a few things. I have been learning and reading for a few years now and I have not even come close to really understanding everything. The next thing is that have healthy self-esteem is not a one day job. You can do all the exercises and “finish” the packet, but you still have to live the rest of life. There will be good days and there will be bad days. I have found in my life the most important thing is practice.
Today I heard the most delightful story that expresses the topic of this post. In church today a friend of mine recounted this story, she calls it "The Parable of the Drawer".  I will try to do it justice!

She said, “One day during my mission (she served for 18 months as a proselyting missionary
for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) my companion and I were getting ready for the day. I noticed out of the corner of my eye the dresser that my companion and I shared. The dresser was a simple one with 6 drawers, I used the top 3 and my companion put her things in the bottom 3. I noticed that one drawer was slightly open. I glanced in its direction and saw that inside that dawer all the clothing was nicely folded and organized. In my mind I commented how organized my companion was. She was such a kind person and how fitting that she was organized. I turned away smiling to myself. Suddenly I whirled around and stared at the drawer. It was MY drawer! My clothes all neatly organized. I looked away stunned. First of all I am nice! I instantly began complimenting my companion for her cleanliness. I automatically thought nice things thus I am a nice person. How lovely! I had inadvertently complimented myself. Second of all it was my drawer! I was organized!
If I had recognized my own drawer initially I probably would have instantly chastised myself for leaving it open.”

This is a wonderful example of what we do everyday. We fault ourselves for everything we could have done better and yet we rarely compliment ourselves. For example, yesterday I took a test. I got an 80%. I came home and my roommate asked how my test had gone. I commented that it was alright, she looked at me concerned. I smiled and shook my head, “No,” I said “it was fine. Really I did alright.” Later that day a friend told me that she had also taken a test. She explained that she had scored an 81%. I looked at her and said “That is great! Nice work!”

I realized later, thinking over the day, what I had done. I viewed my own score as a failure because I could have done better, but I was quick to support my friend. I would never tell anyone else that an 80 is a good score but that they could have done better. So why do I do it to myself? We are ridiculously hard on ourselves. We only see how we could have done better, but we do not recognize our successes. This week I want you to focus on your successes. Imagine that your life is the life of a friend, and talk to yourself like you would speak to your friend. Focus on your successes, even if they are small! Really LOOK at your situation and see the good! You need support just as much as the next person so support yourself! It will become more natural as time goes on!