What do you REALLY deserve?
I love chocolate. There was a period of years in my marriage where I felt like I had so little enjoyment that there was no way I was going to deprive myself of the pleasure of chocolate.
From time to time I would notice that I was eating more and more chocolate and enjoying it less and less. Occasionally, I decided to stop eating chocolate for a week or two. I needed to reset so it started feeling pleasurable again.
Nothing wrong with any of that.
Here’s what I have learned, though. Chocolate is a temporary pleasure. In excess it creates things in my life that are not what I want, like upset stomach, sugar headaches, and weight gain.
Here are a few things I think I really deserve:
I deserve a good night’s sleep. When I think this, it feels good to go to bed at a reasonable hour to be well rested for the next day.
I deserve to learn and grow. When I think this, it feels good to sit and read a book or work on a project instead of watching more streaming videos than I intended when I started.
I deserve connection. When I think this, it feels good to text or call a friend in real life instead of scrolling social media.
I deserve to drink enough water. When I think this, it isn’t a chore to get to my 80-ounce/day water goal.
I deserve love. When I think this, I speak to myself more kindly and treat myself better in a myriad of ways.
Consider: what do YOU deserve, really?
