TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF
1. Accept that you are a unique person of worth – there is no-one else like you. You are a masterpiece! Therefore you have great value!

2. Learn to live in the present and avoid worrying about the past or the future. We can’t change what has already happened, nor do we have any control over what might happen. Enjoy the moment!

3. Acknowledge your strengths and limitations. We are all good at some things, but none of us are good at everything. It helps us when we are honest about what our strengths are and where there is room for improvement.

4. Have a healthy balance between work, rest and play. Remember the old saying “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy (or Jill a dull girl)!” Make sure you include some fun times in your schedule, as well as times for rest.

5. Learn to say yes and no honestly, not out of obligation. If we say yes, when we would rather say no, we will probably end up resentful. It is OK to say no sometimes when something is asked of us. Think about the request and decide if you have time, you are able and if you want to do it. Then give your answer, yes or no, accordingly.

TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE
1. Identify your core values, the things that are most important to you. Some examples may be honesty, respect, family, being creative, having fun. You can probably think of others that apply to you personally.

2. Look at the things that are occupying your life right now and ask yourself how they line up with your core values. Do they match or is there some discrepancy? Adjust your goals to match your values.

3. Examine your lifestyle and ask yourself if the choices you are making are taking you in the direction you want to go. For instance if you wish to be healthy, are your choices taking you in that direction?

4. Have healthy boundaries in your relationships. Healthy boundaries are fences with gates in them – we are in control of the gate keeping in what we want and keeping out what we do not want in our lives.

5. Learn to ask for what you want and let others know what you do not want in a manner that is respectful of others and yourself.