Do you ever think badly about yourself? Would you believe me if I said it’s not always your fault? Either way, we all have thought poorly about ourselves at least once in our lives. However, many times we do not realize just how often our thoughts become influenced. For example, let’s pretend that you were sitting in a waiting room. While you were sitting in the waiting room, everyone around you started to stand up one by one until you were the only one sitting. Are you more likely to stand up or remain sitting? Chances are you would probably choose to stand as well. Even though you may not be aware of it at the time, you are being influenced to follow the pattern that the others have set in motion.

So how does this relate to thinking badly about yourself you ask? Good question. Well to start off let’s address the first point I am trying to get across. Because our minds can be so easily persuaded, we tend to believe a lot of what people say to and about us. So if someone said “you’re stupid”, even if you chose to ignore it, it would pop back up in your mind somewhere down the road and you might start to believe it over time. Our subconscious being is a lot more complicated and complex than we think.

Sometimes we do not even realize how much negativity we let in. When we allow more negative than positive into our minds, we start to discourage ourselves by every little piece of negativity we allow in. Over time as more negativity builds up, some is bound to pour out. We begin to experience ourselves feeling depressed and as if we are not good for anything. This is what I like to call “the dark tunnel”. Some tunnels can be long and some can be short. Either way, we feel the same while in a tunnel until we reach the end. So if you are like me, and you have “dark tunnels” that could last for weeks on end. Know that there is a light at the end, and when it truly comes down to it, you’re the only one who can pull yourself out. Because let’s face it, no matter how many friends you have, no matter how encouraging they are, when you are alone you are just going to go right back into the tunnel. Yes, friends and family can be a huge help, but if we allow ourselves to remain in the negative, we will just keep feeling badly about ourselves. I don’t know for sure how you all feel, but personally, I do not want to waste my time throwing myself a pity party like I have in the past. I want to help encourage you all, and to help you realize these patterns that we all fall into as emotional beings.

So bringing it all to a close (on a positive note). Know that you ARE NOT stupid. You ARE worth it! But most importantly believe in yourself, and don’t let others opinions get in the way of who you are. As a Keystone community we need to encourage one another, and lift people up. So let’s stick with this Project Positivity! Be encouraged and keep on carrying on!