Three Strategies to Boost Your Self-Esteem!
We all struggle with self-esteem from time to time. Both internal and external influences can have a significant impact on how we view ourselves. Sometimes we look in the mirror and don’t like who we see. It is important to remember that our reflection is two dimensional, we do not see the whole picture of ourselves, yet we are the ones who judge most harshly. The following article provides 3 strategies to help you strengthen your self-esteem. These strategies include, the staff and mirror exercise, affirmations, and a non-negotiable list.
1) Staff and Mirror exercise
Find a staff or a broom stick and grip it with your dominant hand. Stand in front of a mirror and declare, “I showed up. I matter!” You have the right to stake your claim on the planet. Say this affirmation every time you stand in front of the mirror, then when you leave your house to go to work, see a friend, go shop, etc., before you enter your destination stand up straight and affirm, “I showed up. I matter!”
2) Affirmations
Make a list of 10 affirmations that have personal meaning to you, for example, I am loveable and capable, I deserve good things, I am a dedicated father, etc. Every morning when you wake up and every night before you go to bed say these affirmations while looking at yourself in the mirror. Anyone can read anything from a piece of paper; however, to really internalize these statements you have to look at yourself in the mirror as you are saying them. Do this exercise for 45 days. After about 45 days you will notice the negative messages you have been telling yourself and bought into begin to fade away. You will genuinely believe you are loveable and you do deserve good things as well as everything else you have been affirming.
3) Non-negotiable list
In order to have a strong self-worth it is important to conduct your life with integrity. One way to ensure you are living in integrity to yourself is to do a non-negotiable list of your values, beliefs and morality. This will help you to identify what you stand for and live by it. To complete this exercise, take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On the left side of the page write your values, beliefs and ethical standards. On the right side, write how you have been conducting your life to date. If what is on the left side of the page is not also written on the right, this is where you are going against your own integrity. Explore how you can make these two sides line up. If you are not honoring your own standards you may find it difficult to love yourself.
Remember, everyone has the right to be on this planet and stake their claim. Think of all the lives that would be impacted, even in subtle ways, if you never existed. You count! You matter! So honor yourself by living your truth and giving yourself the love you deserve.
For more information and in-depth descriptions of these and additional steps to self-esteem building please refer to my book Creating Your Own Fairytale Life: 7 Keys to your happily ever after. which will be available June 15, 2015.