Remember that you are enough.
Tip # 14 for the holiday season: Remember that you are enough.
Many of us experience some form of social anxiety and it’s not unusual for it to feel heightened during holiday gatherings and parties. We worry about saying the “right” thing, wearing the perfect outfit, and people liking us. We encourage you to be your perfectly imperfect self in upcoming social situations. If you’re feeling shy, be shy — maybe people will appreciate your smile and warm presence. Be curious about the people you are with and use this as fuel to facilitate connection rather than wasting time analyzing what the funniest/coolest/smartest thing to say might be. Every time you catch yourself judging yourself, take a moment to take a deep breath, remind yourself that you are enough and then practice walking, talking, and breathing as if that were true (because it is true).
Here’s how the Calm team reminds themselves that they are enough:
Christi-an: I catch myself judging myself ALL of the time. For years, I wholeheartedly believed the bully that lives within. Now I tell that bully that I am worthy of love and connection and that chasing after perfection is boring.
Jade: I keep a gratitude journal and I try to find at least one positive quality about myself or something I achieved each day. This reminds me that even when things feel tough, there are so many successes within each day. I also write down each day what I noticed about my thoughts or inner tone towards myself, so I can track it. It helps me step back from any criticism I have about myself.
