I'm special. In all the world there is nobody like me.

Since the beginning of time there has never been another person like me. Nobody has my smile. Nobody has my eyes, my nose, my hair, my hands, my voice. I'm special.

In all of time there has been no one who laughs like me, no one who cries like me. And what makes me laugh and cry will never provoke identical laughter and tears from anybody else, ever...

I'm the only one in all of creation who has set of abilities. Oh, there will always be somebody who is better at one of the things I'm good at; but no one in the universe can reach the quality of my combination of talents, ideas, abilities and feelings.

Through all of eternity no one will ever look, talk, walk, think, or do like me. I'm special! I'm rare!

And, as in all rarity, there is great value. Because of my great rare value, I need not attempt to imitate others. I will accept-yes, celebrate-my differences.

I'm special. And I'm beginning to realize it's no accident that I'm special. I'm beginning to see that God made me special for a very special purpose. He must have a job for me that no one else can do so well as I. Out of all the billions of applicants, only one is qualified, only one has the right combination of what it takes.

That one is me. BECAUSE I'M SPECIAL!!!!!!!!

1. You have a right to put yourself first sometimes.
2. You have a right to make mistakes.
3. You have the right to be the final judge of your feelings and accept them as legitimate.
4. You have a right to your own opinions and convictions.
5. You have a right to change your mind or decide on a different course of action.
6. You have a right to protest unfair treatment or criticism.
7. You have a right to interrupt and ask for clarification.
8. You have a right to negotiate for change.
9. You have a right to ask for help or emotional support.
10. You have a right to feel and express pain.
11. You have a right to ignore the advice of others.
12. You have a right to receive formal recognition for your work and achievements.
13. You have a right to say no.
14. You have a right to be alone even if others would like your company.
15. You have a right not to have to justify yourself to others.
16. You have a right not to take responsibility for someone else's problems.
17. You have a right not to have to anticipate others' needs and wishes.
18. You have a right not to always worry about the goodwill of others.
19. You have a right to choose not to respond to a situation.

In all the world, there is no one like me. There are persons who have some parts like me, but on one adds up exactly like me. I own everything about me.

• My body, including everything it does.
• My mind, including all its thoughts and ideas.
• My eyes, including the images of all they behold.
• My feelings, whatever they may be-anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment, excitement.
• My mouth, and all the words that come out of it, polite, sweet or rough, correct or incorrect.
• My voice, loud or soft and all of my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.

I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears. I own my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By doing so I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts. I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know. But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for the solutions to the puzzles and for ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is me. This is authentic and represents where I am at that moment in time. When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said and did, and how I thought and felt, some parts may turn out to be unfitting. I can discard that which is unfitting, and keep that which proved fitting. And invent something new for that which I discarded.

I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me. I own me, and therefore I can engineer me. I am me. And I am okay.

• I can trust my own feelings and perceptions!
• I am not to blame for being verbally (or physically) abused!
• I am not the cause of another's irritation, anger or rage!
• I deserve freedom from mental anguish!
• I can say no to what I do not like or want!
• I do not have to take it!
• I am an important human being!
• I deserve to be treated with respect!
• I have power over my own life!
• I can use my power to take good care of myself!
• I can decide for myself what is best for me!
• I can make changes in my life if I want to!
• I am not alone, I can ask others to help me!
• I am worth working for and changing for!
• I deserve to make my own life safe and happy!
• I can count on my creativity and resourcefulness!