There is one consistent factor that lies at the heart of so many challenges we face in our lives and that is low self esteem. It doesn't even occur to some individuals that the root cause of so many of they're issue's are related to the low self image they have of themselves. The affliction itself is allowed to take root and smolder for years. These individuals blame they're problems on prejudice, abusive relationships, a mean and unfair boss, etc. They compensate by acting aloof, or tough, egotistical or even disengaged. This can manifest into poor relationships, financial difficulties, lack of follow through or commitment or any number of traits that degrade the quality of our lives.
Its much easier to blame outside forces, but in doing so, denies the problem and any potential solutions. Disguising low self esteem as some other visible issue, the problems are never addressed and overcome. But you can count on one thing, whatever challenges arise in our life, you can bet someone else has had it worse than us and has gone on to bigger and better successes.
Ask yourself who is the primary force that shapes your life? Who does the majority of your thinking? Who chooses to think what they wish to think on a daily basis? The answer of course, is you. You shape your life and no one else. So is there anything preventing you from going on to bigger and better things? If others have faced greater external challenges and succeeded, then can outside circumstances determine the course of your life?
Low self esteem in large part is a product of how we were raised. Researchers have found that we come to the predominant view of ourselves by the age of five. By this age, the world is either a safe or dangerous place and we react either positively or negatively. Our parents are the primary shapers at this time but this is also tempered by our experiences in school and our experiences in society as a whole.
Our foundation of thinking is impacted a great deal at an early age and is carried with us into adulthood. By this time, we have accepted our flaws and how we define ourselves, not even thinking that the very flaws we have come to accept as fact, have nothing to do with reality at all. It is just a product of the way we have decided to accept ourselves. But that doesn't mean its true.
I believe we can improve our self esteem by making a genuine effort to focus on a sense of empowerment. We can do this by making a commitment to spend time to understand who we really are as individuals. Really make the commitment. Not an half hearted attempt, or "I don't have time" attempt. Peel the onion of your self and go deeper and deeper to a place that will allow you to realize the power of who you really are.
We have decided to carry this bag around called a "self image". This is the image you have formed about yourself in comparison to those around you. Its nothing more than a judgment you have made about yourself. This self image in most people is probably kind of negative since we usually compare ourselves to someone "better" than us. Look at children who are three, four years old. They have perfect self esteem because they have not formed a self image by that age. They don't judge themselves.
Take stock of your negative inner talk. Most people's self talk is 95% negative. They see the worst in themselves. It is our thoughts and beliefs that shape and produce what we become. The quality of our lives is a direct result of them. Use that negative talk to remind yourself that this is not the path to your higher self. One of the basic keys to success in life is the ability to recognize that many of the challenges manifesting as external problems in our lives are really issue's that are disguised as low self esteem. What do you think?
Imagine your ideal self, how you would look, how you would feel, what you be saying to yourself, and do this consistently with vivid detail and you would begin to raise your self-esteem, like it or not, and receive associated benefits.
One of the simplest and most effective ways of raising your levels of self-esteem is by using verbal affirmations with or without a mirror. The two best affirmations that the author has ever come across to raise self-esteem will be listed later. For now though, here's what using verbal affirmations does:
-- the more that you repeat your self-esteem affirmations, with emotion, the more effective they will be in producing actual results in your life fast
-- using verbal self-esteem affirmations, indeed using written affirmations, starts to program your subconscious mind so that you take on a new self-image -- a new set of beliefs about yourself
You don't even have to believe that using the self-esteem affirmations works. However, having the willingness to continue using the affirmations even if it's just one session, so that you go far beyond that time where you start to resist will enable you to have breakthroughs immediately.
What is meant by that? Let's say you're using the affirmation: " I am happy" to raise your level of happiness, or to become more aware of the happiness available to you. In this instance, you may start saying repeatedly the mantra, " I am happy".
It doesn't matter where you do this. It can be in your car was your driving. It can be a breakfast table. It can even be out on the street, but prepared to get funny looks from those around you if you take this suggestion. An even more powerful way to say affirmations is in front of the mirror. This can raise your self-esteem faster than anything else.
Here's another tip: say your affirmations in the three different ways with the first three pronouns, i.e. " I am happy" referring to yourself; " you are happy" - the way that you talk to yourself; " he is happy" - in this way your brain understands you in a language that your parents or people talking about you would use -a powerful programming method.
As you begin to say you're affirmation again and again, hundreds of times over, you'll reach what is known in sports athletes terms as a plateau. This is the absolutely crucial part of this article. It can make or break you in terms of being success of your affirmations.
The absolutely key thing is, despite what your brain/mind/feelings may be telling you about stopping saying the affirmation, is continue, continue, continue regardless. Just keep on saying the affirmation again and again and again. Do this, and you will get breakthroughs fast.
Breaking through the plateau period which will happen when you say you affirmations, is a bit like breaking through plateau when you're an athlete exercising, you go from feeling like it's just not worth it, to an endorphin pleasure rush and the realisation of just what you are doing and how powerful is. You will generate the necessary believe to follow through in word and action to create that put your affirmations states -- a higher level of self-esteem.
The two most powerful affirmations are raising your self-esteem that ever been discovered as follows: one number one: "I like myself". As a variation on this, you can use, " I love and approve of myself." the second affirmation is more general, but complements the previous and is: "I feel terrific".
It is highly recommended that you only use one or two affirmations at first. Use a maximum of five at any given time. Although it sounds simple, it may even sound stupid, the proof is in the pudding. Try it, break through the plateau and go free, you'll never look affirmations the same way again. Better yet, you gain the benefits of a better self-esteem: more friends, more good feelings, more money, more confidence, better results.
Both Robert Hunt & Sam Beatson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Robert Hunt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Parenting, Self Esteem and Fitness. Robert Hunt is the creator of MySelfDevelopment - . Robert Hunt's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.