Self-Love Prompts is a series I started after creating a list of 50 self-love writing prompts. People like you select a prompt that speaks to them, work on it, and send me their response so I can share it with you guys!
We’re continuing on this series with Graham of Graham Gardiner Photography. I’m excited to have her contributing to this series by answering the prompt, “If I Could Give My Teenage Self Some Advice, I Would Tell Her…”
Write A Pep Talk To Give Yourself The Next Time You Feel Sad, Upset, Or Full Of Doubt
Hey. If you’re reading this, it’s probably one of those nights. You feel sad and confused and unsatisfied. You feel pathetic and helpless.
Guess what? You are okay.
You are so loved. You have family and friends who try to understand. You are innately kind. You are wonderfully curious.
You are worthy.
You are enough.
And guess what? People actually like you. It’s not an act. You’re not awkward. Let yourself go. Laugh. Eat. Cry. Love.
You are brave and strong.
Remember… Things are always better in the morning.
Love yourself, G.
[pextestim pex_attr_name=”Graham Browning” pex_attr_img=”https://uncustomary.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Self-Love-Prompts-Write-Yourself-A-Pep-Talk-1-Uncustomary.jpg” pex_attr_occup=”Photographer” pex_attr_org=”Instagram” pex_attr_link=”http://instagram.com/grahaminsta” pex_attr_parallax=”disabled”]Graham is originally from Alabama, but spent half of her life in Texas. She has degrees in public health and environmental science. She will be attending graduate school in The Netherlands this fall to further love of sustainable design and human equality. She loves fly fishing, photography, collaging, and exploring everywhere on foot.[/pextestim]
What would your pep talk to yourself say? Share in the comments below!
Are you interested in being part of the Self-Love Prompt Series? Select your prompt and send me an e-mail so I can give you more information!
I love this!
I wrote a pep talk letter to myself once in hopes that hearing the truths about myself actually coming from MY brain could help mitigate the effects of severe depression episodes on my self esteem. In theory, it should’ve worked. In actuality, however, it somehow managed to upset me more. I didn’t argue with the facts in the letter – I knew everything I had written was true – but depression’s a major bitch, and in those moments the illness convinces me that all those positive things are so trivial that they don’t “count.” A whole heckuva lot of “yeah but…”s kick in. The negatives within myself loom overhead, eventually suffocating me with with self disgust, feelings of worthlessness, and feelings of hopelessness that I’ll ever be able to break the bipolar monster and become a functional adult. No amount of convincing can get me to see the truths in the letter through the eyes of the me that wrote it.
Despite the letter’s failure to actually influence me when it’s mattered the most, I will more than likely write another one at some point. I’m going to try to learn from my first attempt, and brainstorm other approaches that may be more effective. I’m not going to give up. I can’t. There’s too much at stake here.