Low self-esteem is the root cause of many of our problems. Poor self-esteem can sabotage relationships and careers, cause self-destructive patterns and habits, hamper self-improvement and hold us back from achieving our full potential. Poor self-esteem usually has its origins far back in our childhood, but it can be knocked again in our adult life by ridicule, criticism and trauma.
High self-esteem is the most important element in human performance. The person with healthy self-esteem likes him or herself. Not in a vain, conceited or big headed way but they simply like and accept themselves for who they are. These people perform at higher levels. They are calm, positive, purposeful, open, expressive, assertive, self-reliant, sociable, co-operative, energetic, optimistic and always looking for ways to self-improvement. When you are in the company of someone with high self-esteem you feel better about yourself, not worse. Here are a few tips for developing higher self-esteem. There will be more to follow in another article.
1. “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission”, Betty Ford. Don’t give that permission to anyone. No matter how much people knock or criticise you in your life don’t let anyone put you down.
2. Make lists of all your good qualities, abilities and all the achievements that you are proud of and really congratulate yourself for all of them.
3. Take care of you appearance. Always be clean and look as neat and smart as your budget will allow. The way you dress does make a difference in helping you feel confident.
4. Read stories about successful people and those who have triumphed over adversity. Find out how they achieved their success and use the information to help yourself towards self-improvement.
5. Listen to and learn from motivational speakers either in person on CD, tape cassette or video.
6. Move towards what you want to achieve in small easy steps. Don’t try to take a big jump all at once. Achieving the small steps will encourage you to press on towards your goal and self-improvement.
7. Join the smile, firm handshake and compliment club. All these things matter, nobody trusts someone who doesn’t shake hands properly. If you see someone without a smile, give them yours. Complimenting someone when they deserve it not only boosts their self-esteem but yours as well because you have made someone feel good.
8. Always finish what you start. When you complete something people pay you compliments and you feel better about yourself.
9. Do something for others, especially those who can do nothing in return. “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden a little for someone else”. Charles Dickens.
10. Break bad habits. Stop smoking, drink alcohol only in moderation or stop altogether. Cut out junk food and eat a healthier diet.
11. Make friends with your enemies. Life is too short to have people in it that you don’t get along with. That will really help your self-improvement.
12. Choose your friends and the people you mix with carefully. Mix with positive people whose influence will help you to improve. Stay away from negative people and those who may influence you to do bad, negative things.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
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