Two songs: F**kin’ Perfect by Pink and That I Would Be Good by Alanis Morissette.
I’m never totally up on the music scene so excuse me if I’m way behind the times. I just heard the Pink song on the radio a few weeks ago. The second song is an older one. I recall listening to it in a pastoral care class and my recent renewed addiction to Dawson’s Creek has brought it to my attention again. It was used in a recent episode and caught my ear. They’re good songs, people. Good songs.
You’re so mean when you talk about yourself … change the voices in your head … make them like you instead. Pretty pretty please don’t you ever ever feel like you’re less than – less than perfect. Pretty pretty please if you ever ever feel like you’re nothing, you are perfect … to me.
... that I would be good even if I got a thumbs down … that I would be good if I got and stayed sick … that I would be good even if I gained ten pounds … that I would be loved even when I’m not myself … that I would be good even if I lost sanity … that I would loved even if I wasn’t myself …
I like these songs particularly lately because I of all people need to hear them. I resonate. I may be mistaken as a confident young woman but, more often than not, I’m insecure, unsure, and fearful.
I need to change the voices in my head. My thoughts of late are constantly filled with judgement, self-doubt, and mistakes. I second guess my decisions and consistently tell myself that I don’t do enough.
It’s not that I’m not given grace. It’s not that I’m not learning and growing in skill and confidence. It’s not that I’m not supported. Perhaps it’s how I function and a little enneagram #2 coming into play. [I blame my 2-ness a lot. Perhaps that needs to be a blog post of the future.] Perhaps it’s how my history has seasoned me to act. Perhaps it’s greater culture.
Whatever it may be, mission: attitude change must begin. A colleague told me that someone once told him that this pastor tells himself, “I am okay.” Perhaps I need a personal mantra. Something I can tell myself and believe. Something maybe like:
I am a child of God.
I am gifted.
I am loved.
I don’t have to do everything.
I must take care of myself.
I carried a watermelon.
[strike the last one from the record. but name that movie and I’ll give you an air high-five.]
You should repeat every one of those statements and know it to be your truth.
Say it. Believe it. And I’ll try and take that advice for myself too.
there's no place like gnome. 
When a friend of mine is feeling low, they look in the mirror and tell themselves, "You are awesome." I'd add a few Party Rock shuffles for good measure. Good to go.