Dedicated to Katie C. and Mike R.
1) Listen to what you are telling yourself. Replace all "shoulds" with "coulds". This includes past tense as well. (ie. "should have" becomes "could have")
2) Make a list of things you wish someone had said to you when you were a kid.
3) Look at yourself in the mirror and say the things in #2 to yourself.
4) While you are looking in the mirror, before you walk away, focus on your favorite feature for a moment...if you don't have one yet, choose one.
5) Before you leave the mirror, try saying to yourself, "I love you even though_________." (you fill in whatever it is that might be in your way of loving yourself today.
6) Listen to your favorite song..singing along is even better.
7) Make a list of your best qualities. (at least five)
8) Make a list of the people you know would be kind to you, if you told them about the nature of your funk.
9) Reach out to one of the people in #8.
10) Pat yourself on the back for doing any one of the above.