“Remember, no one can make you feel inferior with out your consent.” Elenore Roosevelt
Building our self-esteem begins with ourselves. Since we have been born, we have been hearing more negative comments than positive ones. These words have determined whether we believe in ourselves or not. It doesn’t matter if the words were true or not. Many times we sabotage ourselves because we believe that we can’t do something. We let those words from the past create our present.
However, it is those thoughts or conversations we have with ourselves that can help us to believe that we are capable of doing anything that we want to do. We can erase the negative words that keep racing in our heads and replace them with positive thinking.
When someone tells you that you look tired, instead of affirming that in your head, replace it with a positive thought like, “I feel energized or alert.” When you get negative feedback on your work, tell yourself that you are proud of yourself, that you did your best. You will take their suggestions but you know that you are a smart and intelligent person so you will learn from the experience.
Be your best friend. Start by being aware of the negative thoughts you have. If it helps, keep a tally. Then try to lessen the negative thoughts and increase the positive thoughts each day. When you get a negative thought, STOP, and try to change that thought into positive words. If it helps, talk to yourself out loud when you are alone. Do this for at least 30 days. The better you get at this, the more you will see that when someone says something demeaning to you, the words are less hurtful. You are able to let the words roll off your back because you know you are a great person. You are sure of your self-worth and any hurtful words or actions by others are their problem, not yours.
“Remember, no one can make you feel inferior with out your consent.” Repeat this each day till you believe it.
