Are you the kind of person who dwells on your strengths, or the kind obsessed by your weaknesses? It's been said that you become what you think about most of the time. Continually pondering your strengths therefore makes you become stronger, enhancing self-esteem. Conversely, thinking constantly on your weaknesses makes you become weaker, draining whatever self-esteem you have.
Incidentally, self-esteem is all about who you think you are. Notice the word "think." Quite often it has nothing to do with reality. What we think of ourselves could be very far from the truth. The world is full of beautiful women who think they are ugly, thin ones thinking they are fat, men who have it all but think they need more?. I believe you could add to this list of ironies!
Self-esteem is all about what you think about you. Now, who or what do you think you are? Are you happy with your answer? If yes, you have healthy self-esteem; if no, your self-esteem is poor. A poor self-esteem could weigh you down in many areas of your life. It could cheat you out of promotions, contracts, relationships and much more. If you feel inadequate and undeserving, you will never fight for more in life. Why, you think you do not deserve what you presently have! If you feel unworthy of your loving spouse and children you could unconsciously hold back on loving them, fearing they might leave you sooner or later. You consequently maintain emotional distance, protecting yourself from anticipated hurt, alienating your loved ones in the process. Do you see how poor self-esteem could do its harm?
An unrealistically high opinion of yourself could be equally damaging, resulting in conceitedness, the other end of the continuum. Conceitedness destroys relationships, and consequently businesses and careers. Whether they are feelings of superiority, or of inferiority, an unhealthy self-esteem is damaging. It is therefore important to build and maintain a healthy self-image, where you think positively of your strengths and abilities but with humility, desiring to be a blessing through them.
By all means you should celebrate your strengths and successes. It is alright to feel good about them. We all have them, so do not be too self-effacing. If you were to make a list of things you are good at, that you get complimented for, and progress you have made in the last five years you may even find that you have not been fair to yourself; you may be more accomplished than you thought! Why not make such a list right now!
On the other hand, making a list of your weaknesses is not to burst your bubble. It is to highlight areas for further improvement. If these are things you cannot change, you will simply need to find a way around them. You certainly shouldn't work up a sweat about them! For instance, if you hate writing speeches, you could hire a speech writer. Not good with balancing the books? Get an accountant. And if you think you don't have a pretty face, you could focus on fitness, inner beauty, good grooming and manners. You could always find a hairstyle, a combination of colours, a style of clothing that down plays some features, highlighting others. So celebrate your strengths, work on your weaknesses; and enlist help wherever you need it!
If you made the list of your strengths, and the other of your weaknesses you will often find that your strong points more than make up for your weak ones. It therefore makes sense to dwell on what you've got rather than what you haven't. No one is perfect, but we are adequate for God's purpose. You have all it takes to be you. There is no reason to envy someone else. They need what they've got to be themselves, something you were not created to be.
So, dear friend, who do you think you are? Reel off those strengths in answer to this question and you will not be far from the truth. Think on your strengths, celebrate them and be thankful. Remember, it's all about who you think you are. And that is within your power.
Copyright 2005 Oma Edoja
Oma Edoja is a freelance writer, motivational speaker and publisher. She publishes an inspirational ezine, The Up-Mobile ezine, at http://up-mobile.blogspot.com. This article is excerpted from issue 5. Visit to see current issue. Subscribe now and get free booklet: Four Steps to Success -- Your easy-to-follow guide to getting what you want and keeping it by Oma Edoja
cleaning team near Winnetka ..I'm lucky.When I was fifteen, I was the sole survivor... Read More
There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More
Discover how easy it is to improve your relationships. The... Read More
Some people are full of confidence and able to meet... Read More
Positive self-esteem is very important if not crucial to our... Read More
"It really works!" "Well, I'll be?!"BJ like so many others... Read More
The way to define your personality is to refine your... Read More
The most happy and successful people on earth have a... Read More
Bernard always had a problem with money.He was always lacking... Read More
Gail's StoryGail is a friend of mine and she was... Read More
When you're feeling "low," or out of the flow, it's... Read More
Hospital patient undergoing surgery recounts how Hero Soul provided strength,... Read More
Do you ever feel sorry for yourself? Do you ever... Read More
"Where are your bananas?" It seemed like a logical question... Read More
If you suffer from low self-esteem, it's because you don't... Read More
Never Quitting Equals Success Most people who achieve fortunes in... Read More
"You can't always get what you want . . ."... Read More
A Model of the dysfunctional, unconscious human psyche. A way... Read More
In view of the increasing negative events happening around the... Read More
Every day something changes at work: your products, your customers,... Read More
You are the only one that can give confidence to... Read More
One Friday in November, I began a journey from New... Read More
Year after year I find more and more individuals saying... Read More
A joke is a way of getting people to laugh.... Read More
Who are the Whiners? Whiners are the people who always... Read More
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..The infamous "glass ceiling" is blamed for business issues for... Read More
A Model of the dysfunctional, unconscious human psyche. A way... Read More
No one becomes successful by accident. Motivational speaker Les Brown... Read More
With the probable exception of some basic instincts ? or... Read More
We hear a lot these days about accepting responsibility for... Read More
Hey gang; Ok it's time to create some good habits.... Read More
One of the most important aspects of living a healthy... Read More
The hardest part of success is the **courage** you need... Read More
This week's wisdom is on the power of living in... Read More
By definition,an affirmation is a statement repeated time and again... Read More
The easiest, most exciting adventure in consciousness follows the lamplit... Read More
We have often missed the mark because we believe we... Read More
You have probably noticed those people at work, school, and... Read More
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious."... Read More
Bosses can't control many things at work. In fact, they... Read More
When you look at your future in terms of your... Read More
Distortions are False Beliefs Programmed every Day by Self and... Read More
1. Take passionate action towards living your life by design.... Read More
Facing a change and want to make it work for... Read More
What do you do when things in your life don't... Read More
? Make a list of all your accomplishments in life... Read More
Visualization is the art of using ones imagination to influence... Read More
We all need encouragement. Even the most callous, hard headed... Read More
Do you wish you had high self-confidence? Some of us... Read More
Are you a person who loves challenges, or hates them?... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |