Job for today: be a cheerleader for someone else and get the best out of them.
That’s a job worth doing and worth doing well. You cheer them on, that makes them cheerful and this cheers you up too. Talk about win-win.
Cheering other people on is all part of being a good human. It boosts their confidence, self-worth and self-belief.
But let’s not forget ourselves. We need to be our own cheerleaders too.
Why?
That’s also part of being a good human: self-regard, self-appreciation, self-love.
Activating our inner cheerleader is important for daily motivation and keeping our spirits high. It feeds our courage and self-respect.
Being your own cheerleader has nothing to do with humble bragging or being big-headed and arrogant. Far from it.
This is just you talking to you and being positive, getting energised and generating a feel-good factor so you can take on the challenges of the day.
This is you telling you that you are doing well and coping admirably.
Being your own cheerleader is especially important when you are going through a major illness like cancer because you can feel more than a little vulnerable.
Although we can talk to plenty of people about all things cancer, drawing on our own resources is essential for keeping going. Our inner dialogue is always better when fed with positivity and optimism.
The biggest fan and ally you’ve got is you so it makes sense to let yourself know just how important you are. You are your biggest support network so start telling yourself what you need to hear. Be kind to yourself, be generous, be constructive.
This positive self-talk and self-praise is good for your mental health. Something like cancer is going to mess with your head so pumping your inner narrative with high praise will do no harm.
10 things you can do today (and don’t hold back):
- Root for yourself
- Give yourself a lift
- Give yourself a pat on the back
- Give yourself a round of applause
- Give yourself a fist-bump
- Give yourself a standing ovation
- Give yourself three cheers
- Give yourself a hip-hip hooray
- Doff one’s cap to yourself
- Tell yourself ‘Bravo!’
We can boost our own confidence by being self-compassionate and cultivating a sense of self worth (something that cancer can easily take away).
Those positivity pompoms aren’t going to shake themselves – you have to do that. Champion yourself, promote yourself, support yourself, defend yourself, invest in yourself.
What you say to yourself is your business but make sure you give it plenty of ‘Rah-Rah-Sis-Boom-Bah!’
Great advice!