Okay, okay; I know I'm not a psychologist. I also know this week's tip is going to border on "weird".

Anyway...

So, we went up north to visit my parents for Christmas and my dad gave me his copy of The Secret of Staying In Love and recommended I read it. You have to understand that my father was a health teacher (sex-ed, whatever...) for about 20 years, including my Freshman year of high school. But that's a story for another time.

Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/97964816@N00/3505432466/

So, I'm reading the book my dad gave me and the first chapter is all about "how to love yourself before you can love someone else."

Where am I going with this?

Well, a new year, and decade, is upon us. 'Tis the season for resolutions.

Doesn't it seem like most people resolve to fix a problem or improve a weakness? I've discussed this before, and I'll mention it again: Why not emphasize our strengths instead of fixing our weaknesses?

CAUTION: Here's where I get weird.

Question: What do you LOVE about yourself?

That was a question from the book. Honestly, I'd never thought about it before. Have you?

Instead of thinking about what you want to fix in 2010, why not list all of the things you love about yourself and emphasize those instead? Creating this list will be one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself.

Don't ask others for input, just "brain dump" on a blank sheet of paper. Try picking one trait that you can build on during the new year. Wouldn't this be a helluva lot more fun than trying to fix something?

Any thoughts?

We can get even more weird if you like--tell everyone what you love about yourself in the comments below. I'll start. Let your ego shine through baby! After all, my dad the sex-ed teacher says it's healthy.

Happy New Year,
Dr. Heiler

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