Creative Thinking: Self-image
Ask yourself what you think about... yourself! If you see only “perfection” (or almost), you have to change your mind about such belief. You are not perfect, as no one is and never will be.
I can hear you saying that you never thought of being perfect, that you know your faults etc. Of course you do. But, most times, your behavior shows the opposite.
When you get upset about being contradicted, when you get offended by someone’s words, when you criticize another... you believe you are “right”, don’t you? It is the same as saying that you are “flawless,” that you know the truth while the others don’t. Although you will certainly refuse such appellative, deep inside you are conceited and, at times, even arrogant. On the other hand, you might believe that you are full of flaws and you do not accept willingly certain sides of your character. It is not unusual to meet individuals (usually women, but there are some men, too) who have no self-confidence whatsoever, whose self-image is pitiful and who, as a consequence, accept a situation of submission, of blind acceptance, even of abuse.
They believe they are worthless, they are convinced that they need someone else to take care of them and are therefore ready to take all the “bad stuff”! If you detect any weakness in your character, acknowledge it and do something. It is up to you to build a stronger image of yourself. You are inferior to no one. If till now you have believed that you are, change your belief because it is not true.
And the same can be said if you believe that you know better than others, that you “are” better than others. Also this is not true.
In order to perceive yourself in a more positive light, stop comparing yourself to others. They are not you, therefore their experiences, situations and achievements are different from yours. You only have to focus on your life, on your skills, on you capabilities, on your goals. In fact, you need a goal to aim at, a goal which you should nurse in your heart throughout your whole life.
But… be careful! Such goal must be a realistic one. Although you are capable of achieving extraordinary results, you must also be aware of your real situation. Although you might be interested in space travel, the dream of becoming an astronaut — if your physical or mental health is precarious — sounds a bit far fetched, doesn’t it? The same as earning millions in a month (unless you are a wizard) or becoming a Barbie doll in a week (in spite of all the plastic surgery available). Anyway... who knows? What I am saying here is that it is highly improbable, therefore you should try to focus on something more attainable, something that could really improve your life, now.
Examining your beliefs and detecting the wrong ones is the first indispensable step toward improvement. If, during your childhood, someone labeled you negatively, you must deal with the possible negative behavior that might be the direct consequence.
Not many people are aware of the impact that even just a word can have on a child’s mind. It can mark his or her life for ever.
If a child was called “clumsy,” or “stupid,” or “fat” etc., he ends up believing it. Therefore, while growing up, he or she will most probably conform his behavior to such beliefs. It would be wonderful if all parents learned how to address their offspring. It shouldn’t be too difficult to treat them with kind words, with words of encouragement when needed and words of praise when deserved. Far too often, on the contrary, harsh appellations are uttered and dramatic consequences are inevitable.
In conclusion, a balanced and positive person knows how to love and appreciate himself or herself (without falling into the trap of conceit or misery) because they are capable of developing their strengths and use them to create a fruitful, peaceful life for themselves and for their environment.
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Blog: recreateyourlifetoday.blogspot.com
