As a language teacher, I talk regularly about first, second and third person. Invariably, I start the initial conversation by asking “who is the first person in your life? The one person who you cannot get rid of? They will be there every moment of every day of your life?” Because I’m dealing with young people who have a limited view of their own lives, I often get answers like “my mom”, “my sister”, “my dad”, etc. Eventually the obviousness of the question sets in. The answer is yourself! The only person who will be there every day of your life is you.
Despite the fact that the only person that each of us will deal with consistently, many people struggle with their inner relationship. Imagine having a roommate and talking to him or her, the way that you talk inside of your own head. The number of times that you’ve mentally berated yourself for a mistake or just for being who you are. It’s incomprehensible that I would ever treat other people the way that I’ve treated myself mentally at times. A roommate definitely would have moved out by now.
So pay attention to the relationship that you have with the “first person.” Take some things off the table. Excessive negativity or particular word patterns. Bring a freshness to the relationship that you have with yourself. Think about the times that you’ve called or texted a friend from out of the blue to express your gratitude for them. Do the same for yourself. Find ways to recognize yourself internally. You would do it for a friend. Why wouldn’t you do it for you?
You’re the best! (And so am I!)
Pete
Huryk Unlimited 