Congratulations, you’ve made it to Day 4 of the Just For Today Challenge – 31 Days To A Better You.
How did waking up 1/2 hour earlier today go for you? I hope you didn’t hit the snooze button on your alarm and slept in? If you did, you’ll have to go back to yesterday’s Challenge of waking up 1/2 hour earlier than normal and set your alarm again. Don’t worry, it gets easier with practice 
Today’s Challenge will take you anywhere from 1/2 to 2 hours to complete.
This should be done when you have at least an hour to yourself in a quiet area. You’ll need to think back over your life and write down 25 things that you are most proud of in your life. With a pen and paper (or your trusty computer) write down 25 things that make you feel good about something you have accomplished or done in your life.
Are you proud that you were able to get up this morning, even when you didn’t want to? You can start your list with that.
Are you proud that you think you are the best mother, father, sister, friend, boss that you can be? Add that to your list.
Have you quit smoking? Overcoming any addiction is something to be very proud of.
Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith. – Garth Brooks
Being proud of the small things in life is just as valid as the big things. Not everyone can climb Mt. Everest, but maybe you are proud that you never called in sick from work for all of last year. Or maybe one of your proudest moments was when you held your newborn child in your arms. This is your list, you can add anything that makes you feel proud of yourself for doing, accomplishing or being. Maybe you are proud that you always show up on time and do what you say you are going to do. Having personal integrity is something very much to be proud of.
Continue until you have 25 things on your list. Of course, you can continue with more items, but they should be things that you are genuinely proud of.
My hope is that you will refer to this list when things get tough in your life. Please make sure that you keep this list in a safe place.
Also, feel free to share this list with others in your family and encourage them to write their own list of what they are proud of. Maybe you will be surprised at what is on each other’s lists.
Just For Today, look back over this list (make sure that you continue to add to it over time) and know that you are someone to be proud of. Look at all you have accomplished during your lifetime. Know and believe that the future holds many more opportunities for you to be proud of yourself.
I’ve done this Challenge, too. Here’s just a small sample (in no particular order) of what I’m most proud of in my life:
- First person on both sides of the family to go to University and graduate
- Self-publishing a book of my Mom’s poetry
- Never picking up the smoking habit
- Being able to afford to take my Mom to Las Vegas 3 years in a row
- Obtaining the Project Management Professional designation
- Moving to Toronto knowing only 1 person and knowing that if I didn’t move I would regret it
- Working for 10 years on Bay Street at two of the top banks in Canada
- Taking salsa lessons for six months and showing up alone on Friday nights at the dance club
- Graduating #1 in my College program and, of course
- Starting the A Meaningful Existence blog!
Is there anything you are especially proud of? Let everyone know by leaving a comment below. Thanks for sharing.
Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for Day 5 of the Just For Today Challenge.
For a list of all of the Challenges, see the Just For Today Challenge page.
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