Self-Esteem: Your Inner Landscape

Self-esteem is a very personal portrait of your inner landscape. It’s how you think and feel about yourself at any given moment in time. Often this view stems from your perception of your talents, your accomplishments and the input you receive from those around you. When you feel good about yourself there’s so much you can accomplish When something negative happens that lowers your self esteem, it can lock you in a cycle of self-doubt.

Building self esteem is one way to bring more happiness and joy into your life. To steadily build your self esteem or to deal with a temporary reaction to a negative event try this multidimensional approach.

1. Get Physical. Movement helps disrupts negative thoughts, so take a walk, play music and move to the beat, exercise, straighten up your desk or cook. Any type of physical activity that gives you a sense of accomplishment or pleasure will do.

2. Connect. We all have people in our lives who think we’re great even when we don’t. Connect with them soon and often. Don’t rehash or wallow in the negative emotions you’re trying to escape (limited venting is okay!). Focus on how you feel when you’re with them to help build “feeling good” muscle memory.

3. Acknowledge and Appreciate. Everyone is good at something. Start or end each day by writing down five things you appreciate about yourself or what you’ve accomplished. (Beautiful eyes, a sense of humor, being a good parent or friend) and five things you appreciate about your life (your garden, red nail polish, your pet).

For a longer lasting effect do all three for at least a week. Focusing on what’s good about you and your life attracts more of the same and builds an inner landscape that will nourish and help you grow throughout your life.

Affirmation: I appreciate and honor who I AM this day