Do You Believe in Miracles?
10 Exercises to Stay Spiritually Fit
20 Scriptures That Bring Hope to Any Situation
5 Ways to Revive Your Dream!
7 Ways to Plant Seeds of Greatness in Your Life
20 Powerful Declarations to Fight Discouragement
5 Ways to Stay Healthy This Summer
5 Tips for Better Sleep
7 Top Health Issues Facing Today’s Women
Celebrities Who Won't Back Down
Words of Wisdom from Dr Joyce Brothers
A Conversation with Minnesota Wild Center Matt Cullen
Yes, Gratitude Works!
10 Ways to To Handle Life Changes With Courage
The Fruits of Desire
Nurturing a Healthy Marriage
10 Ways to Get Over a Hurtful Past
Ten Things Every Dad Should Tell His Son
This tip may seem odd to you. How can clearing your sink every day say, “I love me”? It might not for everyone but many of us haven’t been in the habit of washing dishes in a timely fashion and putting them away shortly after. When I was a DoorMat, I left dishes in the sink for days, or at least all day. My dish drain was always full since I rarely put them away. After all, I’d need most again so why bother?
I think that being messy was one of the few was I could rebel back then. When I was married, my husband did very little to help with cleaning and chores, though we both taught school and came home at the same time. I had major resentment and stopped doing a lot of things I didn’t consider essential. I’d wash the dishes when I felt like it and leave things laying around. It reflected my lack of caring about my self-image in general.
DoorMats feel out of control. Taking control of a bad habit says, “I love me.”
When I moved out on my own and my self-love grew, I became conscious of dirty dishes in the sink. The more effort I made to wash them in a timely manner, the better I felt. One night I went into the kitchen and the dish drain was full. It was a habit to leave everything but I put everything away and it felt wonderful. In the morning I found myself smiling at the empty dish drain. I vowed to make an effort to make sure everything is away before I go to sleep.
There have been nights when I was tired and looked at the dishes thinking they could wait till morning. But control usually kicked in and I reminded myself it doesn’t take long. I ALWAYS smile after I do it, which says, “I love me.” It’s uncanny. I’m tired, try to convince myself it’s okay to leave the dishes, and then I wash or put them away. Then a warm feeling of joy comes over me!
Every time you do something to improve the quality of your life, and I consider a clean kitchen to be in that category, it makes you feel good.
So whether it’s washing dishes or putting them away or folding and storing your laundry or any other little task you’ve slacked on in the past, take control and get it done. The more you take control, the better you’ll feel. Say, “I’m ________ because I love me!”
Take the 31 Days of Self-Love challenge and get my book, How Do I Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways for free at http://howdoiloveme.com. And you can post your loving acts HERE to reinforce your intention to love yourself. Read my 31 Days of Self-Love Posts HERE.
Please leave comments under my posts so we can stay connected.
posted March 30, 2011 at 2:57 pm
This makes a lot of sense and when I am feeling resentful I will let the chores pile up, but when I’m on it I always feel so much better and my day is good. Thank you.
posted March 30, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Glad it helped you!
posted March 31, 2011 at 2:23 am
I totally believe this post, when I slack off with house hold chores its usually because I feel depressed, but when i finally decide to clean it lifts my spirit.
posted March 31, 2011 at 10:58 am
this is so true — whenever I put off chores for “tomorrow” it is usually because I am feeling down in the dumps. But when I clean it does make me feel so much better
posted March 31, 2011 at 3:40 pm
You are so right !! I have left dishes and when I did wash them it took me forever to put them away. I have a dishwasher, too, but it seemed a chore to empty it and put the dishes away. Same with washed and folded clothes. I am not sure why but suddenly I thought I can’t do this anymore, and I was surprised at the great feeling of accomplishment I had, and I even felt a little proud of myself for taking control. Thanks for this great advice.
posted March 31, 2011 at 4:54 pm
I’m glad you all find this beneficial. It truly picks me up and actually doesn’t take very long to do for the good feelings it brings.
posted April 2, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Everything you wrote is true. I resented my husband because he did very little to help out. When he did, he had an attitude, ‘look what I HAD to do to help YOU out’. So I stopped doing the chores. When I am down in the dumps or have the ‘I don’t want to’, I let things slide. It takes less than 20 minutes to do dishes. Thanks for the article.
posted April 2, 2011 at 10:34 pm
I relate Carolyn! I too had a husband who did little, actually nothing. I resented him and stopped doing whatever chores I could. I’m grateful to have gotten past that.
Pingback: “I Love Me” Tip: Relax If You Don’t Do a Chore - Lessons from a Recovering Doormat