Are you a precious object?

Are you a precious object? In case you didn't know, the answer is - yes!  When I was in graduate school, I was going through a hard time. My mom had just died and I was feeling sad and at sea. My therapist at the time gave me some homework. She told me to write down the above message on a piece of paper and put it somewhere that I could see it everyday.  

I took the assignment pretty seriously and tried to make it look nice with fancy lettering and some pastels. To my surprise, this piece of paper has been with me since the 1990s and most recently stuck up on the inside of my wardrobe. Although I dutifully did the assignment, it's taken me decades to fully believe and integrate the message. In my work I come across many clients who have internalized social messaging that taking care of ourselves and deeply loving ourselves is somehow selfish or pointless - especially when things around us are in disarray. I disagree. It's not weak or indulgent or silly to treat yourself with care. Can you imagine a world where everyone followed this advice? How would if feel to believe that you are both precious and strong? How would others react? Try it out and let me know.