Confused yet? Let me explain it with a true story:

I was talking to a young man who was going through some tough times. He looked at me and said, “Why do you spend time with me? You probably have better things to do!”

I grinned at him. “Nope! Right now, you are the “better thing”! I know you have worth; I know you have value; so, spending time with you is a reward; not a task.”

“How do you know I have value?” he challenged.

“Because you are someone who cares about your friends; I’ve seen the way you stand up for them. You have a brilliant sense of humor and great timing on your comments; they always make me laugh. Your view of the world is unique; and I always learn new things hanging out with you.” I then went on for a few more minutes, with him becoming more and more embarrassed. “That’s why I KNOW you’re worth my time!”

Every time we meet someone new, that’s our goal: to find out what makes them unique. What are the quirky things they do, the hidden talents, the skills and abilities they may not even admit they have. And do you know what? We’ve discovered something really neat: EVERYONE has something that makes them worth our time! And, no matter how awkward it may make them feel, we really do enjoy pointing out those things to the people around us. Our goal is that the next time they say, “I have value!”, they can follow it up by saying, “Because of the way I treat my friends! I have value because of my sense of humor!”

This week, on your journey, don’t just say your positive self-talk statements. Tell yourself WHY you know they’re true. Find an example, one time in your life, when that statement was true and use it to strengthen your statements. “I can talk to people because I spoke up in my group.” “I have talents because I wrote that poem.” The Bridge said to let you know you can use, “I am lovable because God loves me!”

Once you know WHY you believe the statements you are saying, the positive statements get easier to believe. It’s a cycle, with each statement reinforcing the other!

In closing, I would also like to encourage you to use your words a little differently. The next time you tell someone, “I love you!”, tell them why. The next time you say, “You’re amazing!”, tell them why. Help them to know WHY you know these things! Your words can be used to build them up and give them a solid base to grow from.

We hope you enjoy your journey!