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Students: want
to learn about a free, ten-minute exercise that will help you discover
your unique, authentic self? Read on...
Up until last year, I had no idea who I was without my achievements. My
career goals, they were my LIFE goals. They were all I thought about -
24/7. Showing the world. Making others proud of me. My portfolio. My resume.
My perfect GPA - that was how I measured my self-worth.
Can any of you relate? If you're not getting good grades, working or volunteering,
winning awards or planning for your future, do you know whom you are?
Dr. Nathaniel Branden once said, "The tragedy is that so many people
look for self-confidence and self-respect everywhere except within themselves,
and so they fail in their search."
After 27 years, I decided to find my authentic self and life purpose.
I sat down with pen and paper and proceeded to list exactly who I was
without my achievements. Some ideas came easily and others did not. If
you struggle to come up with a few, don't worry. Ask a trusted friend
or family member to help you out. Return the favor by telling them why
they're so great, with or without their accomplishments. Here's what I
came up with:
I am...
• a person who has a big heart.
• a person who finds satisfaction
in helping others to feel good about themselves.
• a person who loves her family and
desires to spend time with them.
• a woman who is lucky enough to have
a fantastic, supportive and loving husband who is truly my best friend
(We've dated since high school).
• a person who seeks meaning in the
world.
• a kid at heart who needs to remember
my roots (I just bought a bicycle and rediscovered the exhilaration of
pedaling the evening and my cares away).
• a physical being who loves to dance,
bike, rollerblade, jump rope and hike in the woods.
• a person who loves nature - minus
the bugs!
• a person who feels a sense of calm
every time I sit by the water.
• a person who will laugh at just
about any joke and make just about anyone feel funny.
• a principled writer who believes
in the power to make money while doing something positive for society.
• a woman who is flawed, has doubts
but continues to love herself anyway.
All these things make up who I am authentically. They will never change
no matter what mistakes I make, what "failures" I endure, or
what success I achieve. Now that you've read through my exercise in self-love,
give it a try! I promise you that it'll be the most fulfilling exercise
you've ever completed.
Shoot me an email and tell me
what you came up with. I love to hear from students!
About the author:
Maria Pascucci is the President of Campus Calm - the award-winning online-forum for today's stressed-out students, and their parents and educators. Download your Student Life Stress-Less Kit with 4 FREE gifts at www.campuscalm.com.
Want to reprint this article in YOUR own website?
You can as long as the article remains complete and unaltered (including
the "about the author" info and link back to
www.campuscalm.com), and you send a copy of your reprint to
maria@campuscalm.com. You're also welcome to use my photo
here.
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