Self-Talk and Self-Image
Self-esteem can be broken down into three components:
- Self Image
- Self Talk
- Determination
Self-esteem is hard to describe. Yet it affects how you act in every situation, what you say and do, and how you feel about yourself and others. It is a constant influence on your perceptions of yourself, others, and life in general.
Look at yourself in the mirror. That’s the way others see you.
Self-image is not the way others see you; it is the way you see yourself. You are the only source of your self-image. Therefore, you are the only person who has the power to make you feel good about you. Although you create your self-image over your lifetime, for most (impossible) standards of performance. This gives rise to perfectionism. It also helps you avoid the hurt of rejection as well as other negative aspects of life.
Let’s look at self-talk. Everyone has a critical inner voice. This voice often keeps a running, negative, commentary inside your mind that undermines self-worth. You must allow new, positive messages to replace the “shoulds,” “should nots,” and criticisms of your inner voice.
For three days monitor your judgmental inner voice.
Keep a list of at least ten negative attacks your inner voice makes daily. At the end of the day, read your list of criticisms. After each one, decide if the reprimand allows you to:
Do Something Good
OR
Avoid Something Bad
You will see a pattern.
But now you can be on the alert for negative talk. Stop this negative talk and then mentally affirm your worth and the fact that every human has value and a right to survive.
Your worth as a human being is a birthright. No one can give it to you or take it away.
You are a worthy individual.The only things keeping you from enjoying the gifts of self- confidence and self-respect are your thoughts and self-talk.
Self-esteem requires a respect for your inner worth–your feelings and values, and your outer worth–how you behave and fit into the world around you. Don’t listen to an inner critic.
And they both take determination.
© Chrissy52 Survivors Journey. Used with permission
