This morning I felt the need to continue to read Brene Brown’s book, The Gifts of Imperfection. Although I believe we are all imperfect and fallible as human beings, I struggle with making mistakes just like most people. Yesterday someone pointed out a mistake I made in wearing a scent. I apologized and told her I’d remove it and that I don’t normally wear scents. She angrily retorted that I always wear scents. Her anger upset me more than the fact that I had made a mistake. It felt like a knife twisting in my heart. When I read Brown’s chapter on “Cultivating a Resilient Spirit,” I once more realized that I still am vulnerable when others criticize my imperfections. Brown admonishes us to “Dig Deep” daily, quoting an intention-setting reminder from a Twelve Step meeting. It’s called the vowel check: AEIOUY.
A = Have I been Abstinent today? (food, work, computer, drink, etc)
E = Have I Exercised today?
I = What have I done for myself today?
O = What have I done for Others today?
U = Am I holding on to Unexpressed emotions today?
Y = Yeah! What is something good that’s happened today?
