BUILDING - SELF ESTEEM

SELF ESTEEM is Developing a Positive Sense of Self.

Your self-concept is made up of all the beliefs and attitudes you have about yourself. These determine who you think you are and what you become.

Do you have a positive self-concept?

Self-esteem is one way you can measure how you feel about yourself. It is important that you learn to nurture positive thoughts about yourself to maintain it. If you have not been nurtured or have been given lots of negative messages, the chances are your self-esteem is low.

If you have low self-esteem you may: not like yourself, be unaware that you do not value who you are, believe you can’t achieve good results at school or elsewhere, live in a world that does not work for you, harm yourself by abusing drugs and alcohol, become self-destructive in other ways.

Low self-esteem often makes people do things for the wrong reasons.

If you have low self-esteem you may think you have to prove you are worthwhile. Inside you don’t believe it. If you know you’re okay there’s nothing to prove. If you trust yourself you do things for honest reasons. It’ s not really honest to do good deeds that are a cover up for feeling bad about yourself.

Possibly 85% of people in our society have low selfesteem. Think about that! Even millionaires, sports idols, top executives, pop stars, teachers and parents. It may look like they have everything going for them, but inside they may not like themselves, are depressed or suicidal.

How many people do you know who really love and regard themselves highly?

“Self-esteem is one of the most important things in life. Being comfortable with yourself, talking to other people and getting on in life – you need it for absolutely everything. My self-esteem is not as high as I want it to be. I could be more confident. When I am, my self-esteem rises. I want to live a successful life, so I’m working on it. ” – Alan (16).

“This girl has to be perfect. Every hair in place and she puts people down who are not perfect. She can ruin the selfesteem of others. Takes it out on them. That’s not very fair. When people are bitchy to other people it usually means that they are insecure about themselves.” – Chelsea (14).

“If you say bad things about other people you are trying to raise your self-esteem, but you are just lowering it. If you say good things about other people, you feel better about yourself.” – Angie (14).

Most people like and are attracted to people who have high self-esteem. They express inner qualities we admire. By discovering your Essential Nature you become selfconfident.

What are the thoughts that stop you being your true self?

Some examples: I’m dumb – Nobody likes me – My hair is always a mess – I’m no good at soccer. The beliefs you hold about yourself are powerful. With attention and ef fort you can change those that don’ t work for you.

Write down the statements that describe you in your notebook: I am happy. I am sick. I am good. I am beautiful. I’m a loser. I’m a winner. I am dumb. I am fine. I’m OK . I am bad. I am clumsy. I am a gossip. I’m anxious. I’m boring. I’m a mess. I’m cool. I am successful. I’m a failure. I’m lovable. I’m sexy. I am sad. I’m smart. I’m a good student. I’m ugly. I’m a good person. I’m a slow learner. I’m not OK . How do you score?

Half are uplifting, the others are not.

What have you made of yourself? Adapted from 100 WAYS TO ENHANCE SELF-CONCEP T IN THE CLASSROOM – Jack Canfield and Harold Wells . THINGS TO DO!

Read more about self esteem from Amritas Book "Getting Real" page 49 by clicking on the icon right.

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