Looking In From the Outside

Some days I wish I could look in, from the outside. 

I am very fortunate to be surrounded by the most supportive friends. After this past year, they still encourage and support me.  

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” they say. 

“You are so strong and doing so well.”

“You are managing this incredibly difficult transition very well. Hang in there!”

“You are such a great mom.”

“There is no timeline on healing. It is normal to feel as you feel.  You are doing so great.”

“Things have a way of working out. You will sort it out.  You are strong.”

“You are amazing. You have so much to offer.”

I wish I could see me as my friends do. Sometimes when they tell me these things, I wonder what I look like to them. What they see. 

I know the words they use describe what they see. But it feels like they must be talking about someone else. It can’t possibly be me. 

How do I start to see myself as they see me?