Self-esteem is not egoism, conceit or arrogance; it is the degree that you like and accept yourself as you are, the degree you respect yourself and feel confident to deal with life's challenges. The goal is to begin to enjoy catching yourself in the act of doing things right. I encourage you to challenge your thinking about self-esteem and the way you approach life. If you can increase your skills of managing life's little "blips", then they will have less of a negative impact on your life.
The most important principle to your personal development is the concept of self-esteem. While self-image deals with how you see yourself, in your mind, Fernandes ravelle self-esteem is an emotion of the heart and directly influences our ability to act courageously when prompted. Healthy self-esteem is the degree that you, consciously or unconsciously, like and respect yourself and feel confident to deal with life's challenges. It is how warm, friendly and appreciative you feel toward yourself. An important question to ask is, "What can I do to help people respect themselves? What would happen if everyone had a one-notch rise in self-esteem?"
Before we consider how we might build the esteem level in those around us, we must look at indicators of low self-esteem. Hostility is the key indicator of low esteem and is often manifested in one of three ways:
1. Withholding - When you feel good about yourself, it is not necessary for you to withhold from others. Some of the things which people withhold include participation, praise, speech, information, and their best efforts.
2. Attacking on the subconscious level - Teasing and sarcasm often leave people laughing on the outside, but the subconscious mind may be buying into the barbs. Beware of attacks on the subconscious level.
3. Entering territorial boundaries - Entering the territorial boundaries of others, or "bugging" them, is another way hostility is expressed.
Indicators of healthy self-esteem are serving and sharing. You notice self-esteem in people who lock on to the positive characteristics and personality traits in themselves and others. Lock on to the positive. Love and accept yourself unconditionally.
The seven steps for building self-esteem in myself and others are as follows:
1. Help people realize that they are beautiful and unique just the way they are! I am beautiful and unique just the way I am.
2. Guide people away from believing they "have to" stack up to others. I am in competition only with my own best self.
3. Help people recognize that they are not their actions and decisions, and that failing in a relationship, task, or job, does not mean they are a loser. My worth is innate and not heightened or lowered by my actions and decisions.
4. Help people become more responsible by participating in decisions that impact them.
a. Provide them with alternatives
b. Allow them to recognize the benefits and consequences of each choice.
c. Allow them to make the decision
d. Hold them accountable
I enjoy making my own decisions and choices and accept 100% accountability.
5. Help people recognize that mistakes are only stepping-stones to achievement providing the feedback necessary to improve. Mistakes enhance my awareness, allowing me the opportunity to grow and improve.
6. Help people recognize that life is a journey to be embraced and enjoyed one day at a time. I enjoy living each day one day at a time in alignment with my values and goals.
7. Help people recognize that praise pays, even when things are not going well. I enjoy giving myself and others plenty of praise for our efforts.
Please let me know if these ring true for you. Life is a joyful adventure when we determine to be a thermostat rather than a thermometer. Set the temperature around you high and others will follow your lead.
Jonn Moomaw is a Professional Development Consultant for Edge Learning Institute in Tacoma, WA. For 35 years, Edge has delivered life-changing principles to over 9,000 organizations throughout the world with dynamic results. 800-858-1484 [mailto:jmoomaw@edgelearning.com]jmoomaw@edgelearning.com
No comments:
Post a Comment