Fred Rogers was famous for his cardigan, sneakers, kindness, and soft manners. His most relevant work was to spread this message: accept yourself just as you are and love your neighbors. He carried a flag of Love, compassion, service, hope, and sincere friendship.
For many years, millions of children grew up singing and playing with Mr. Rogers while watching his television show daily. Furthermore, many people, like myself, met him in our adult life and learned to Love him too. Recently, through a film and a documentary, many more people of all ages had a chance to know Fred Rogers, and hear his message.
If you wish to feel connected and happy, imagine that you live in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. Even though the idea seems like a game, it is also a great exercise to help us see what matters with clarity. In the following paragraphs, I share lessons from his shows. Take a look, go back in memory lane, and remember your favorite episodes or fun single moments.
Lessons Mr. Rogers taught us about Self-Acceptance
"Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are, gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people." -Fred Rogers-
We inherited many centuries of wrong beliefs, false teachings, and theories of submission. Religions, philosophical, and social systems taught us that we are less than, we are flawed, inadequate, born sinners, etc. They separated us from our divine essence and we grew up believing that we are worthless. Sadly, self-Love and self-acceptance never was part of our education system.
Mr. Rogers was set on waking people up, reminding us that we are intrinsically good, beautiful, and perfect just the way we are. He wrote a song about why we are so special. In it, he reminds us that "there is nobody else like you in the entire world because you are a wonderful and unique being".
Here are some strategies to help you become more accepting of yourself
Connect with your feelings and embrace them. Humans tend to avoid difficult emotions; it is an instinctive reaction. However, facing the facts and embracing the truth is healthier and more productive. When you acknowledge your feelings and emotions (whether anger or fear), you get a chance to address the root causes.
Welcome and cherish silence. Even though silence is adverse on most television sets, Mr. Rogers knew how important it is to pause daily to reconnect with ourselves. Being still and quiet allows you to go inside yourself, to listen carefully to your inner voice, and figure out what you want.
Slow down. You will miss out on the beauty of life if you are busy, rushing, or running around constantly. Relax, take a deep breath, slow down and pamper yourself. Taking the proverbial time to "smell the roses" is so vital that in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood the traffic lights were permanently yellow to remind us to take our time.
Create art and use it as a form of expression. Mr. Rogers used music, and the puppet shows he crafted to express his thoughts about human emotions through storytelling. He said that drawing also made him feel good, despite not being an expert. Go ahead and experiment, play, explore and find new ways to express your creative side. Your projects will relax your mind while working on them.
Buy less, do more. Mr. Rogers enjoyed making puppets. So much so that he made the dolls used in the show. He never advertised expensive toys in his daily tv appearance; instead, he taught us how to make our original dolls and puppets. Remember, your real value is in who you are, not what you own or purchase. Mr. Rogers was very good at teaching how to have fun with simple things.
Be authentic. Despite rumors about being a Navy Seal or a great circus performer, Mr. Rogers was shy and introverted. Although he graduated Magna Cum Laude twice (Bachelors in Music and Divinity), he was a humble man, much the same on-screen and off. Be true to your values, your dreams, and especially, to your heart. Such is Mr. Rogers' legacy for all of us, his neighbors.
Keep growing. You are worthy of love just as you are, however, there is always room for additional learning and expansion. As your knowledge and skills grow, your self-esteem and self-love also rise. My father taught me that "knowledge doesn't fill any space", and Mr. Rogers also reminded me of the importance of cultivating our mind.
Mr. Rogers Taught Us To Love Our Neighbors
Fred Rogers was a genuine people lover, and when he talked about our neighbors, he did not refer only to the people living in the house next door. His concept was ample, extensive, and reached every person who comes in contact with us.
Likewise, he considered that we are all "in the same train", and invited all of us to be his neighbors.
Here I present you with some ideas to help you build excellent neighborly skills:
Help others. Mr. Rogers tells us that when he was a kid and got scared, his mother taught him to look for the helpers. This amazing man displayed many ideas to help others. You too can be a helper if you reach out to those in need, i/e: volunteering in your community, offering to do yard work for an elderly neighbor, etc.
Resolve conflicts. You may disagree with others, even when you treat them with love and respect. But if you are willing to compromise, you will open the door to solve those issues. Always look for and find solutions that will satisfy both sides.
Speak "Freddish" Mr. Roger’s staff invented a unique name for the language he used with children: Freddish. In short, Freddish means to speak clearly to avoid misunderstandings and try to maintain a positive tone. However, his advice works for people of all ages.
Listen closely. Paying attention and listening, in my opinion, is a noble art. When you show interest in what s/he has to say, the effect you have on a person is undeniable. If you want to prove how much you care, pay attention to what that person is saying or sharing with you. Always make eye contact and validate their feelings. You might disagree with their stance, but still, showing respect for another human being.
Talk about delicate issues. Caring for yourself and your relationships requires talking about challenging subjects. Prepare for difficult conversations by seeking common ground and focusing on making positive changes. Mr. Rogers knew the importance of having such conversations and devoted many shows to topics like death, divorce, and nuclear war.
Be kind. In 2019 Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf honored Mr. Rogers with the First Annual Day of Kindness on May 23, the 143rd or the "1-4-3 Day" of the year. The reason for picking this day is Mr. Rogers' favorite words:"I Love You" and the digits that represent them. You can live like Fred, too, expressing your compassion and generosity. Being kind can be as simple as giving someone the gift of your smile.
Dear reader,"It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood" when you Love and accept yourself.
Here at Beyond Conventional Therapy, through our proprietary technique, the Psychoneurobiotherapy Method™, we help our clients recall or increase self-Love and acceptance, by getting rid of the BS (belief systems) that block their emotions and hinder their progress.
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