Self-esteem, or having a healthy sense of your own value, gets a lot of bad press and there is a lot of controversy around the topic. This seems on the surface baffling to me, as what is the problem with, well, liking yourself?
Where did all of this confusion come from? There are many reasons that I have come across, far too many to mention in a short blog post, but the bottom line conclusion on a practical basis is this: who you think you are and your sense of self-worth affects every single area of your life.
If you feel good about yourself and think that you are worthy of the goodness of life you are right. If you feel bad about yourself and think that you are unworthy of the goodness of life – you are also right. The saying “be is unto to your according to your faith” is a principle of life – period.
Faith is another discussion for another time, but for this blog post, the main thing to remember is that faith and belief come from the heart. It is not just some thought that you glibly recite to impress those around you. When you believe something, you FEEL it.
Getting back to self-esteem I would say that simply self-acceptance is the goal. When you accept yourself, you can have compassion for yourself instead of judging and beating yourself up all day long, and you can have a more open and compassionate heart for others.
Now, acceptance DOES NOT mean condoning or complacency.
However, in order to have quantum leap change and empowerment in your life, you will elevate your energy right out the gate if you can look at where you are in your life and become open to changing it without spending your energy (notice the word “spending”) ruminating over what you don’t like currently.
When you can begin to understand that you are always doing your "unconscious" best (subconscious beliefs rule your world), you can begin to release the resistance of putting yourself down, and each day begin anew. The belief that rejecting yourself motivates you or that it is “humble” to degrade yourself is one of the reasons why people feel life is tough and unloving.
We project out into life, what we believe on the inside. Get clear – self-esteem is not about comparing yourself to someone else or to external factors. It is about realizing that God/Spirit does not make “junk” and loving who you are enough to stop self-destructing and learn to look for the best in your self and others.
Heal the pain that is running you down instead of adding to it by beating yourself up. Then you can find the inner peace and happiness you are seeking and can have more love for others.
It is no mystery to me. Now that I love myself and I am clear that love is the healthy starting point, I expect more goodness from life and I am getting it! Be it unto YOU as you believe!
Well said! It is just like the Bible says, "As a man thinketh so is he." This is why loving who we are (who God made you) is very important if you want to move to the next level in your life.
Posted by: Kenya Johnson | August 19, 2009 at 05:26 PM