Want to LOVE Yourself More and Be Happier? Start By Asking Yourself “What Do I DESERVE?”

You know loving yourself is a key to happiness, right? Maybe you already completely embrace who you are, or maybe you’re still struggling to get there. Either way, asking yourself this one question could have a huge impact on your life and even the success of your business.

What do you deserve?

Asking yourself what you deserve is a deep question. Most of us probably don’t really think about it, especially in regard to the big picture of how we live, how we behave, what we accept and how we treat ourselves.

Now this question is not about deserving decent service at a restaurant. Go deeper; what do you really deserve in your life?

A good friend recently presented this question to me. I had never really thought about it , in these terms, but I loved the question instantly. I immediately began rattling off what I believe I deserve and as I was verbalizing that for the first time, I realized that this is the code by which I live. These standards direct the decisions I make, what and whom I accept into my life and how I run my business.

I encourage you to spend some quiet time reflecting on what YOU deserve. Write down your answers. At first glance your list may seem more related to your personal life than to your business. Your answers reflect your VALUES and WHO YOU TRULY ARE AT YOUR CORE. And trust me; when you are clear about that, and make decisions in alignment with what you deserve, you’ll be able to leave behind what's blocking you and propel your business forward quickly.

Don’t be surprised if you end up discovering a lot of icky stuff during this process. That crummy junk, in the form of unsupportive people and incongruent situations, is probably draining you and holding you back. And the good news is once you understand your personal principles, it won’t be so difficult to get rid of these energy-busters.

To help you get started, I’m sharing my list with you. It has some very strong universal values so if they resonate with you, you’re welcome to use them on your own list.

Here's What I Deserve

1. I DESERVE RESPECT.

Therefore, I don’t accept any relationships in my life that aren’t respectful. That means clients have to live up to their side of the deal as well. If a client can’t stick to our agreed upon schedule for example, then we’re just not the right fit.

Do you have people in your life that you think are your friends but always make you feel small or break promises? Clients that flake out or business associates that fall short? Those people are certainly not lifting you up. Perhaps it’s time to cut the cord.

2. I DESERVE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

Everybody doesn’t have to agree with me but the people in my life must appreciate my perspectives, opinions and feelings. I deserve to be heard. So they have to allow me my thoughts and not expect me to agree with them all the time. If a vendor isn’t taking my needs into account, he’s out.

Are you surrounded by people who allow you to speak your mind? Are you staying small for any reason?

3. I DESERVE HAPPINESS.

I bet you knew this one was coming! It took me a long time to figure it out but I got there and now I’m spreading the joy wherever I can. I’m living my dream (the only way to get there!)
Do you believe you deserve to be happy? Are you striving to make your dreams come true? In what areas are you holding back?

4. I DESERVE LOVE.

I’m single right now … but I know I am worthy of, and am, loved by many. I’m blessed to have fantastic and meaningful friendships. Many of my friendships date back more than 20 years, while others are still budding. And I have a cherished and close family that I can rely on when times are tough or just for a laugh. More important, I can’t expect anyone else to love me if I don’t love myself. So I’ve learned to love myself.
How does love fit into your current situation? Do you know that you’re worthy of receiving love? Do the people close to you show their love? Do you love yourself?

5. I DESERVE GOOD HEALTH.

Guess who this one’s for? ME! Since I believe I deserve to be healthy I better be doing everything I can to honor that. I’ve always kept up with my regular doctor checkups, mammograms, dental cleanings, etc. And I try to eat healthy, whole foods but I could do better at that. I’ve also slacked off on my exercise routine so I recently said to myself, “Get it together girl!” I know all of these things are crucial to both my ongoing happiness and the success of my business.

What are you doing to be your healthiest? Exercising? Eating Right? If you consume alcohol are you doing it in moderation? Do you have a spiritual practice? Are you getting the proper physical exams from qualified professionals?

6. I DESERVE PEACE.

My mental health is also very important to me so I’m committed to keeping my daily meditation practice going and to continuing on my personal growth journey. Also, I don’t like drama in my personal or professional life. Sure things happen but I certainly don’t surround myself with people who always have a lot of drama happening. For me, that’s negative energy and it brings me down.

What’s your commitment to personal growth and/or a spiritual life? Where is there unnecessary drama in your life or business? Does your virtual assistant often miss deadlines or forget things? Well that’s definitely some commotion you could probably do without, right?

7. I DESERVE SECURITY.

This principle came to me just before the recent tragedy in Connecticut that has raised the consciousness of the nation, so it has more meaning now than ever. But on a personal level, I certainly won’t put myself in any situation where I feel my safety is being compromised. If I do find myself in that situatio
I immediately do whatever I can to remove myself from it. These days I also find security in being my own boss. The new reality of today’s economy just doesn’t provide job security from an employer.

Are you making decisions that maintain your safety and security? Are you putting yourself into, or accepting, any threatening relationships or ominous business situations?

8. I DESERVE ABUNDANCE.

I’ve developed the self-worth to know in my heart that I deserve success and abundance. That isn’t the same as greed. Living with an attitude of abundance means I know there’s plenty of the good stuff for everybody. So why shouldn’t I have the big juicy life and thriving business that I dream of? It doesn’t mea
I’m living irresponsibly or turning into an in-debt shopaholic. It means I know that I deserve to have all that I desire and that the universe will provide me with what I need, when I need it.

Do you embrace the concept of abundance? Or are you a glass-half-empty person? Are you skimping in your life, selling yourself short and cutting corners in your business?
Now Commit to Living in Alignment with What You Deserve

Now that you have fully identified your personal ethics, show yourself some love and make a commitment to yourself. Make sure what you think, what and whom you accept into your life and business, how you behave and how you treat yourself all support what you deserve. It’s ok to have high standards. Be sure you set and enforce the boundaries necessary to maintain your moral code. Your intuition will let you know when something isn’t right. Then it’s up to you to speak up and stand up for yourself and remember what you deserve.

Let me know WHAT YOU DESERVE! I can’t wait to hear about it.