Is Your Self Image Hurting You?

Do you find that you’ve become caught up in a cyclical pattern of “unhealthy”? I don’t mean that in a biological or medical way. I’m talking about repeatedly finding yourself in bad relationships, personal chaos, financial woes, or business fiascoes. If you keep getting the same cruddy results in your life, I encourage you to check in with your self-image. I’d bet that it’s not very positive, and I am here to tell you that it is high time you assess and adjust your ego to create a bodaciously loving view of yourself. It’s truly the only way you are going to make a change for the better.

Your inner and outer self-image is your creation and it directly relates to your present experiences in life. How would you describe the way in which you see yourself? Are you confident and secure in your abilities or do you question yourself and have a belief that you’re somehow “less-than”? Whether you know it or not, your true self-image is broadcast to the Universe and the people around you, which determines the reactions and results you get in life. After all, who knows you better than you? If you don’t believe in you, why should anyone else? Let’s check it out. Take the following Healthy Self-Image quiz and see what you truly believe about yourself. And, if you have a friend who could use a self-image boost of her own, please share it with her.

Answer the following questions:

1. How do you view your appearance? (Beautiful, Okay,  Fat, Ugly)
2. What kind of personality do you have? (Rigid, Open, Fun-loving)
3. How do you think others see you? (Crazy, Confident, In control)
4. How do you see yourself? (Authentic, Hiding, Powerful)
5. Do you believe that others like you? (Absolutely, Kind of, Not really)
6. Do you like you? (Absolutely, Kind of, Not really)

If your answers are anything but confident and positive, you could benefit from a self perception make over. Here are three tips on how to take your confidence and self-assurance to a whole new level.

1. Take Charge of Your Mind

If you see yourself as unqualified, insignificant, unattractive, inferior, or inadequate, you are most likely co-creating a reality that doesn’t feel good and is not bringing you the results you want. The solution? Simple: Take charge of your mind. Stop letting your mind dictate negative thoughts and then watching yourself perform (or not) according to them. Your life is too important for you to let yourself be a spectator – or worse – a victim to your negative thinking.

The best way to determine how you feel about yourself is to stay connected to your emotional state on a daily basis. If your mind and thoughts are aligned, you will feel harmony about yourself. If you are not feeling harmonious, that is a true indication that your thoughts are out of alignment. Take ownership of your thoughts and create a different feeling state. Do it right now.

2. Decide to Accept Yourself

There is only one “YOU” in the Universe. That is the person who YOU are responsible for. Only you have the power to accept or reject yourself. Self-rejection is energy depleting and counterproductive. Bring awareness to the parts of yourself that you reject and fully embrace those areas. Fill up on self-love – this is your personal work. The only way to move forward to meeting your core desires is to accept who you are, as you are today, in this very moment. Understanding you and your authentic goals, deciding where you’re going – and how you’re going to get there – is up to YOU.

Take steps right now to accept yourself exactly as you are in this present moment.

• Determine a higher value for yourself.
• Decide exactly what you want from a place of higher self-image and confidence.
• Take action each day that improves your perception of yourself.

3. Take Action to Build Your Confidence

Filling your thoughts with negative self-talk or keeping your authentic self hidden are exactly the things that keep your confidence levels low and contribute to a poor self-image. As they say, “Can’t never could.” When you find yourself thinking, “I can’t,” or “I don’t know how,” take a moment to re-adjust those thoughts to, “I can learn,” and, “I am capable.”

Make peace with the mistakes in your past. Embrace them for what they were – valuable learning experiences that have taught you priceless lessons that will lead you to your greatest success. Free your mind to move beyond the past and take the steps and actions necessary to achieve your goals. When you’re faced with a decision, ask yourself which choice will build your confidence and boost your self-image. Then choose that one.

Only you have the power to believe and present the most positive, and self-assured YOU. Decide today to no longer allow negative thoughts to control your emotional wellbeing. Re-focus your thinking to positive, self-assured, confident thoughts and if you have to, fake it until you make it. The more effort you put into seeing the good and wonderful things about yourself, the easier it is. And the more those brilliant, fantastic parts of you will shine out to the Universe and the world.