Jim's Gems: The Power of Self-Esteem

You, like most people, are well-tuned to noticing other people's faults. However, how effective are you at realizing your own imperfections?

 

Some people have the mistaken idea that people with high self-esteem think that they are perfect. But the truth is that people with high self-esteem are always looking for ways they can improve. They aren’t necessarily seeking perfection, but improvement. They are always moving forward.

 

Those with lower levels of self-esteem who are threatened by looking at their imperfections and weaknesses. These people don't want to know about their problems, because then they may have to actually do something about them. And they don't feel very effective when it comes to solving problems.

 

People with high self-esteem know that awareness of a problem is the first step toward solving it. However, they don't get bogged down in the problem. They create a clear vision of what it will look like beyond, when the problem is fixed. Their world beyond the fix is what they keep uppermost in their minds. They don't constantly beat themselves up when they make mistakes. Instead, they use mistakes as opportunities to learn from them.

 

On a regular basis, they are taking a personal inventory. They feel competent and capable when it comes to doing what needs to be done to improve themselves and their behavior. Even when they are not sure exactly how they will do something, they don't let that stop them because they are confident that they will find a way. They plan for success and they get it done! 

 

Having positive self-esteem provides their inner strength and this strength provides the energy to accomplish their goals. In turn, their success bolsters their self-esteem to greater levels. Thomas Caryle, a 19th century philosopher, said “Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.”

 

Take a long, hard, honest look at yourself. If you don't like what you see, you, and only you, have the power to change it.