Related Links

Bookmark and Share

Featured Links

Recommended Sites
Positive Attitude Links





Quote of the Day

"There is no time for cut-and-dried monotony. There is time for work. And time for love. That leaves no other time!"

Coco Chanel



Recommended Products





 


 
Featured Positive Attitude Articles

Eight Tips for Working for Someone Else After a Home-Based Business
It's harder to succeed in a home-based business than the Internet hype might have you believe. If you've decided to go back to work for someone else after some months or years at home, it can be quite an adjustment. Not only must you give up the dream, ...

Free Tips on Losing Weight
Here are a few free tips on losing weight that really work. Starting with your behavior, you need to start thinking thin and realizing that weight loss begins in your mind. Keep a positive attitude, set realistic weight loss goals, keep a food journal and ...

How to Be a Good Audience
"It's very disrespectful and distracting," wrote Julie, "when others talk and laugh at a presentation, come in late and leave without attempting to be unobtrusive, interruptwith unrelated comments, etc. Can you address how to handle people who are acting ...

10 Ways to Reclaim Your Self-Esteem
 

The way you feel about yourself impacts how and why you do everything in life. If you feel good about who you are, then what you do will be an outside reflection of your innermost thoughts and feelings. Contrary to popular belief, self-esteem is not something anyone or any accomplishment can give you. Just because people like you or you receive an award, does not mean that you will love and take care of yourself. Positive self-esteem comes from within and does not change because the scenery or circumstances change. To have esteem for something or someone is to regard highly or favorably. High self-esteem is relatively stable even when the forecast looks foreboding.


Your self-esteem is like a star at night that shines brightest when it is the darkest. It is your inner light that burns brightly and freely no matter what is happening around you. A zen saying reminds us: "What was your original face before you were born?" Self-esteem is perfectly intact when we are born, in fact, it is inherent to us; however, it often diminishes over the course of our childhood. We lose a little of it whenever we fail, make mistakes, misbehave, feel guilty, refuse to forgive, neglect ourselves, and/or do things we are ashamed of. As an adult, we sometimes feel as if our "self" is in pieces--- that we are somehow not whole and complete.


This is not true. We are whole and complete even with our missing pieces and broken parts. We just need to decide to gather up ourselves up and become whole again. I am willing to bet that when you look back over your life, the first thing that comes to mind are the regrets, the sad times in your past. Do you see the pieces of yourself lying along the path of your life? The ones where you didn't feel good enough, or where you were criticized or blamed by someone else? But have you ever stopped to look at the memories of when you won the prize, felt really great, on top of the world----those moments that prove what a wonderfully amazing human being you are? Try it right now, write down 10 things you are most proud of.


It is your birthright to love and honor yourself. The good news is that you can reclaim that which is yours.


What follows are 10 Ways to Reclaim Your Self-Esteem:


1. Define life success


One of the most empowering things you can do for yourself is to define your criteria for life success. This requires reflecting on what the key elements are and the experiences you wish to have.


2. Choose to be happy


Happiness is a state of mind. The Dalai Lama says that the very purpose of life is to seek happiness. He believes that if you train the mind to be happy, you will be. Likewise, you can train yourself for higher self-esteem.


3. Set challenging goals


How much you like yourself is often reflected in the level of goals you will set for yourself. Generally, people who like themselves and feel valuable, set higher and more challenging life goals.


4. Honor your core values


When you live by a clear set of values, it is easier to align your life with what is most important to you. When you honor your core values, (those things you would fight for), you honor your true self.


5. Enhance your energy


People with high self-esteem seem to have a reservoire of energy, and seldom get sick or let life's set backs keep them down. Their energy and enthusiasm for life encourages them to take care of their body, mind, and spirit.


6. Maintain a positive attitude


Attitude determines your altitude. The more positive your thinking, the more positive your feelings, the more positive the outcome. There is nothing more powerful and creative than your thoughts, so you may as well make them positive and uplifting.


7. Be passionate


Passion takes hold of you and feels like "fire in the belly." It is a source of power that enables you to get fired about life and make a difference. The more passion and zest you feel, the more alive and brightly lit you are.


8. Live by vision and work with purpose


When you know your life vision and purpose, life has more meaning and direction. Vision and purpose provide a sense that you matter, that you have a part to play, and that you truly belong here.


9. Reward success


Set yourself up for success by breaking big goals into daily action steps and take time to acknowledge and celebrate the small successes. This will feed your need for recognition and provides the extra push to keep you moving forward.


10. Make smart life decisions


When you care about yourself, you make smarter decisions. You take care to choose the right mate, occupation, and lifestyle that support you.


Self-esteem is an inner state that can be nurtured and cultivated. The National Association for Self-Esteem (NASE) defines self-esteem as the experience of being capable of meeting life's challenges and being worthy of happiness. That definition underlines two key things: going after goals and choosing happiness. Another definition is the level that you respect and value yourself as a loveable, worthwhile human being.


Your self-esteem contributes to your vitality, energy level, persistence, and personal magnetism. It is not to be confused with "self-image," which is the comparison of those around you. Self-image is about what is on the outside and causes you to judge yourself and others. It changes whenever the wind blows. This fosters competition and fragmentation.


Self-esteem is about what is on the inside, a belief in yourself and your abilities. Positive esteem focuses on acceptance of self and others. It remains constant despite the storm. This fosters cooperation and wholeness.


It is common to have high self-esteem in one area of life, like career, but not in others. The highest form of self-esteem is when you can accept all of yourself---- strengths, weaknesses, best/worst parts, and overall, still feel good about who you are and what you do. Someone with a strong sense of worth will believe in herself, take more risks, say and do nice things for self and others, can let things go, not take everything so personal, forget the bad and focus on the good in life.


How do you feel about yourself right now?


10: perfectly happy with my whole self


to 5: moderately happy with my whole self


to 1: not at all happy with my whole self


If you are less than a 10, commit to using one of these tips today and feel your esteem rise, create a stronger sense of self, and reclaim your inner power. You deserve to feel great!






Michelle L. Casto is a Whole Life Coach, Speaker, and Author of the Get Smart! LearningBook Series. Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching, she helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world. Visit virtually: www.brightlightcoach.com or www.getsmartseries.com. Call for a Complimentary Coaching session (361) 816-0685.

coach@brightlightcoach.com







Google
Positive Attitude News


Capello hails positive attitude
Manchester.com, UK - 6 hours ago
"The attitude of the team was good - they played with confidence and personality." Capello was also asked if he now faces a selection headache after seeing ...
Capello's 'dream' to coach GB in 2012 Independent
Fabio Capello on his dreams of coaching at the 2012 Olympics - the ... Daily Mail
all 122 news articles

GTI says a Positive Attitude is the Best Antidote for ‘credit ...
eTravelBlackboard MICE News, Australia - 12 hours ago
President of Global Tourism Interface, Gaël de La Porte du Theil, called on his guests to maintain a positive attitude which he said would be the best ...

KELOLAND TV

Can Sioux Falls Absorb More Layoffs?
KELOLAND TV, SD - 11 hours ago
Erickson says that positive attitude can help Sioux Falls withstand a worst-case scenario should a major employer lay off hundreds of workers. ...
Effects Of Layoffs On Sioux Falls Economy KELOLAND TV
all 2 news articles

Austin White's performance, positive attitude lift Spartans
Detroit Free Press, United States - Nov 15, 2008
But him staying positive, running up and down the sidelines saying how we were going to win, I think that's the key. "I'm really proud of his leadership. ...

Waseca County News

Grace Lutheran raises money for cancer patient
Waseca County News, MN - 49 minutes ago
She has a surprisingly upbeat attitude amid her medical needs. “Everybody tells me I have a good attitude,” she said. “You have to keep a positive attitude, ...

Hester program recognizes positive student behavior
Franklin Park Herald Journal, IL - 5 hours ago
"The ROAR program encourages students to demonstrate respect, responsibility, a positive attitude, and responsibility throughout our school and community by ...

It's A Miracle: A Woman Defies All Odds After Severe Injury
New York's CW11 / WPIX-TV, new york - 16 hours ago
Kelly attributes her success to keeping a positive attitude. "Attitude is 100% of your recovery it really does make a difference," she said. ...