Find The "Positive" About Your "Negative" Qualities

JUST FOR TODAY:  Love all aspects of your Self – especially any qualities you wish you didn't have.  Appreciate your "negative" qualities by finding a "positive" purpose that they serve.

If you could design your "Ideal Self," who would you be?  What attributes would you exhibit?  What traits would you eliminate?  Rather than trying to eliminate the qualities you dislike, try to find ways those qualities can be expressed so they serve you.  The qualities that you wish you didn't have are exactly the qualities that you need to embrace.  This may seem very difficult to do, but there is a "positive" purpose for your "negative" qualities.  For example, you may procrastinate.  The "negative" about this might be that you tend to leave things to do until the last minute.  The "positive" about this might be that you can be extraordinarily creative when you are under the pressure of a deadline.  Plus, knowing that you can perform at high levels in short amounts of time, you can schedule other activities to enjoy in advance of your deadline.  Think about other "negative" qualities that you have,  especially those which are related to your eating disorder or weight problem.  What is the "positive" about these qualities?  How can these qualities be expressed to help you with weight loss or eating disorder recovery?  Your "Ideal Self" is exactly who you already are.            

©2010 by "Dr. Dorie"McCubbrey, M.S.Ed., Ph.D. – Eating Disorder & Obesity Treatment Specialist – Denver, Colorado