Try this very simple but powerful exercise of writing a love letter to yourself.  Many of us tend to be critical of our own selves.  Give your self esteem a well deserved boost, reconnect with your inner self, and acknowledge all of your great qualities.  Treat yourself with the kindness, respect and support you would offer a good friend.

Find a place you won’t be distrubed, and sit down with a piece of paper and a pen.  Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and begin thinking of all the good and wonderful things about yourself.  If any critical thoughts arise, you must push them aside, because there is no place for them in this letter.

Where to Start? Try answering these questions:

- What do you like most about yourself?

- What are you good at? and what are some of your achievements?

- What do your friends like about you?

- What makes you happy? What do you dream of?

Make it gushy, make it sentimental, make it straightforward.  Just make sure to remind yourself that you are wonderful regardless of any circumstance.  You don’t have to wait for a special occassion like valentines day to write yourself a love letter, whenever you feel like you need a reminder of the goodness that is you.  Take the time to do it.

Now that you’ve done it, put it an envelope, seal it with a kiss, and mail it to yourself.  When it arrives, be sure to set aside a moment to enjoy it properly and cherish the loving words.  You will have a treasure in your hands that you can open and read whenever you need reminding of how special and wonderful you are.  The bonus: when we love and feel good about ourselves, others notice and love us more too!