I may not be perfect but . . .
“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserves your love and affection.” Buddha
It took me a long time to believe that. At age six, I lost both parents. At seven, I was in an auto accident. My nickname all through grammar/high school was Hanger Nose. I had my nose repaired at age 19 and fortunately, self esteem changes over time. Even better, its health or lack of is not written in stone.
Two things can affect our self esteem: how we see ourselves – or how others see or treat us. Sometimes our closest people spend more time criticizing than praising us or our own inner voice keeps picking at us. Sometimes, our inner voice copies those other voices. Nemours Foundation suggests these ways to improve our self esteem:
Try to stop thinking negative thoughts about yourself. Start thinking about positive aspects of yourself. Each day, write down three things you like about you. ∞Aim for accomplishments rather than perfection; think about what you’re good at and what you enjoy, and go for it. ∞View mistakes as learning opportunities; everyone excels at different things — it’s what makes people interesting. ∞Try new things. Recognize what you can change and what you can’t. If it’s something you can’t change (like your height), then start to work toward loving yourself the way you are. ∞ Set goals. Think about what you’d like to accomplish, then make a plan for how to do it. ∞ Take pride in your opinions and ideas. Don’t be afraid to voice them. ∞ Make a contribution. Volunteer your time in some way. ∞ Exercise! You’ll relieve stress, and be healthier and happier. ∞ Have fun NOW. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Relax and have a good time — and avoid putting your life on hold.
Sometimes, it takes a little help to grow self esteem. If you can’t turn to anyone you know, call a teen or adult crisis hotline (check the yellow pages under social services). The most important thing is to get help if you feel like your self-esteem is affecting your life. (My life guide was therapist Sarah W. who made great tea and was a super listener.)
Meditation for the Day
“The mind is everything. What you think, you become.” Buddha
Action for the Day
Today, I’ll remind me: “I may not be perfect but parts of me are excellent.”
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