Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8 (The Message)
I recently came across an old document that I had written some 30 years ago. I had just left an administrative position in public mental health and I was moving to another similar position. I had taken the time then to document a “list of achievements” in the old position.
I think it is good to do self-assessment, and the span of years has given even more context to this document as I read it in my retirement years. You see, I sometimes questioned whether I brought enough value to the position I had just left. Now, as I look at that list, I feel good about the mark that I left on that organization.
This also gave me an idea for a client that I recently saw. This client struggles to give herself validation, and she has a hard time accepting compliments because she tends to discount her own worth. I asked this client to make up a list of achievements in various areas of her life- personal, career, family, social, community, recreational, etc. I asked her to be thoughtful and honest as she went over the list. I know that she will come up with a good list- possibly one that is modest, but a good list nonetheless. I told her we would go over it on the next session. I trust that she will be pleasantly surprised with how successful she has been.
More importantly, I want her to get used to honest self-affirmation. It is not a boastful exercise. It is an exercise in honesty.
Prayer: Lord, lead us into the truth of our own value, Amen
Reflections of a Counselor 