We Women Really Don’t Give Ourselves Enough Credit

People tend to feel accomplished when they check off a to-do list or finish a big goal. That’s when we often are the most confident in ourselves saying, “We really did it!” But what about those tasks we do every day that we don’t give or take credit for. Here’s an example:

The night prior we had had some good friends over until hours that are way past my little ones’ bedtime. The next morning, I had to play in my handbell choir at church and help serve snack, but that night as I laid my head on the pillow I was definitely regretting it. Wishing, hoping that we could just sleep in and catch up on the missed zzz’s from the night before.

But that wasn’t an option so up we were in the morning, got myself and my three kiddos dressed, teeth brushed, breakfast eaten, winter gear on, loaded into and out of the car and to church on time for handbell practice. Then I misspoke something small, something minor and one of the wonderful ladies at church stops what she’s doing, turns to me and says, “You’ve done a lot this morning. You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

I was taken aback. I mean really what had I done differently than I had any other day. Nothing. But then the wheels in my mind started to turn. I had dressed myself, my three kids, got teeth brushed, breakfast eaten, winter gear on, loaded in to and out of the far and made it to church. As I went back over the tasks I had accomplished that morning I started to realize that she was right. I hadn’t given myself credit.

You see, I just see these tasks as something I had to do because my husband was at the farm doing chores and taking care of a sick cow. I had to be the one to set the alarm, dress myself, dress the kids and all the other tasks. Really – have you ever had to dress 3 kids in the morning when they didn’t want to get up? Not the easiest and I had not give myself credit for doing that.

Now just take a minute, like I had done, and add another layer on. Think of how many of those items others in the world aren’t able to do.

Whatever your situation is, just take a second to close your eyes and think about today’s activities. What are some tasks that you did that you should be giving yourself credit for? Getting through a difficult conversation? Keeping cool when your kids were pushing everyone of your buttons? Finally making that phone call to make an appointment? Getting everywhere we needed to on time? Not as late as normal?

It doesn’t matter what the task was or how big or small it was. It matters that you accomplished it and we as women who tend to juggle a lot of activities at one time truly need to step back and give ourselves credit for the amazing job we do!