The toughest thing as a parent is when we are pushed beyond our capabilities. Part of being a parent is about learning by making mistakes, but the problem is that when we are constantly feeling like we are wading in uncharted waters, we start to lose sight of the bigger picture. As parents, we keep pushing forward through lack of sleep, life changes, and our children making leaps and bounds in their development, which means that we can easily lose sight of ourselves.
We have to remember that we are just as important as our children, and this is why taking pride in ourselves is something that, although doesn't come naturally, can be incredibly important. We can't take pride in ourselves when we feel our accomplishments don't really matter or we’re not doing our best, but here are a few things to consider to take more pride in who you are, especially when you don't feel like you should.
Celebrate the Little Wins
Celebrating the challenges in life can make us feel like we are indulging to an extent, but there is a big difference between celebrating and bragging. If you have done something you are proud of, even if nobody else acknowledges it, you should mark this moment. It could be difficult to treat ourselves, especially when we feel like there's not much money to go around, but it's about recognizing what a treat is for you. It could be a ruffle blouse that is easy on the eye so you feel that sense of sparkle when you look in the mirror or it could be about taking a half-day off work to look after yourself.
Whatever it is for you, when we celebrate those little wins, it is a little dose of reinforcement that we actually matter. We can all feel like we've been worn down because we are just pushing through and we're not looking after ourselves. This is why celebrating those little wins on a regular basis is that little dose of positive reinforcement everybody needs. It's those little moments of pleasure that people may not necessarily notice, apart from yourself, but they are wins nonetheless!
Indulge in Your Passions
When we fail to take pride in ourselves or even acknowledge that we are an essential cog in the wheel of the family, we soon go down a slippery slope of emotions where we view ourselves as insignificant. The fact is that, even if you feel invisible, if you don't take the time to prioritize something about yourself, this is when those negative thought patterns can continue. When we indulge in our passions, this gives us a richer sense of fulfillment when we accomplish something that lines up with it.
It might not be feasible to do something massive like change careers, but when you feel like you have accomplished something at the end of the day based on the things you are passionate about, this is what will light a fire within you. It doesn't have to be something that takes up most of your working life either; it can be hobbies that really feed what you truly care about.
We've all had to make sacrifices and work jobs that we don't like or stop certain things in order to maintain the status quo for our family, but when you completely stop doing the things you care about, you are going to start feeling like you don't matter, and if you don't do something about it now, it will only get worse. Doing the things in life that give you a purpose will help you to be more authentic, which will definitely instill a greater sense of pride.
Setting Goals
We can find ourselves in this never-ending cycle of domestic duties or the school commute and we can look back and find that years have passed. In order to have a sense of purpose, which can instill a better feeling of pride, setting goals and working towards them helps us to stop and recognize that we're doing something for ourselves and will nourish who we are. This is why people learn a new language or an instrument.
Doing these things is important for the soul because it helps us feel like we're doing something that will finally benefit who we are. Because when we feel so exhausted or burned out because we've been on this treadmill of life for so long, we've got to look deeper into our lives and address the things that aren't helping us at all. Sometimes a break is all you need so you can rest and recuperate, but those people who can't have a break right now need to figure out what helps them stay on the current path without feeling so exhausted.
Goals help because they provide motivation, but the trick is to set a larger goal with smaller goals building towards it so you can keep you on that path.
Be Compassionate About Yourself
It is harder to acknowledge ourselves because we are completely used to who we are. When we're struggling, sometimes admitting that we are, even if nobody else wants to acknowledge it, helps us to solidify this feeling in our minds. When we admit something isn't right, but yet we don't feel we can get off the treadmill of life, we've got to start practicing those things that form a basis of self-care.
It can be little things that help you to feel happier in yourself, which could include being fashionable or taking that bit of time out for yourself, but when you don't feel like there is any time to do so, it's now more important than ever to have that sense of compassion because you are the only person that can admit when things aren't going as they should.
When you verbalize it, it can bring a lot of things to the surface, and this means that you can finally begin to do something that makes you feel some pride in yourself, but actually feel proud of what you have accomplished.
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