MIND-BODY-SPIRIT
Nurturing Self-Esteem
• Practice assertiveness: say how you feel and ask for what you want/ need. Become your own best advocate. • Set reasonable boundaries — learn to say “No” and balance your time (work, leisure, alone time). More introverted people need more down time to re-energize themselves. • Avoid negative people and seek out people who share your values and treat you well. • Create a support system and ask for help when you need it — we are not alone in this world. • Affirm what you do well and accept compliments. • Read about positive role models and emulate them. • Live by your values. What are the most important ones? • Promote your self-development. When was the last time you took a class or learned a new skill? Self-esteem is like a living organism that needs proper nurturing on an ongoing basis. Someone once said it’s the reputation we have with ourselves. When we don’t behave in ways that show the values we are trying to live by, we feel bad about ourselves; conversely, when we behave in ways that support our values, we feel good about ourselves. This means we have the power to improve our self-esteem simply by being mindful of our behavior. For example, think before speaking or acting, to assure what we are about to say or do is in alignment with how we want to be as people. Maybe it’s time for a change. Spring is the perfect season to take inventory and set new goals, be it vocationally, educationally, ca- reer-wise, spiritually or personally. Invest in yourself and your self-es - teem will thank you. Patricia Spranger, LCSW, is the author of Second Chances: From Truck Stop Waitress to Psychotherapist, a memoir.
BY PATRICIA SPRANGER, LCSW Self-esteem is believing in one’s intrinsic worth as a human being. It is the assumption we each have unique qualities to contribute in life. How we live our lives affects how we feel about ourselves. Self-es - teem is not something that just develops by itself, nor is it something that is reliably stable over time. It is a state of being about the Self that is usually in flux, from childhood on, changing and adapting as life circumstances unfold. Of course, it helps to have had a supportive environment growing up, one in which we heard good things about ourselves. But even if we had a less than happy childhood, we can now as adults choose the environment we spend time in and the kind of peo- ple we spend time with, making sure they are supportive and have good will towards us. Pay attention to how you feel around certain people. If you feel uncomfortable or nervous around someone, maybe that’s a sign you need to avoid them. Trust your intuition. Are you in a stressful or dead-end job with low morale? Do you feel unappreciated? Are you not being remunerated fairly for your work? What about your love relationship? Staying in an unsatisfying situa- tion can affect your self-esteem in negative ways. You may be telling yourself you don’t deserve better. The truth is you deserve good things as much as the next person. The very act of trying to improve your circumstances increases self-esteem. Another important thing we can do to strengthen self-esteem is to monitor our thoughts about ourselves. What are you saying to your- self about You? Pay attention to your running inner monologue and change negative thoughts to positive ones, as CBT (Cognitive Behav - ioral Therapy) teaches us. For example, “People don’t like me” can be changed to “I can reach out, say hello, or offer help”. The first state - ment comes from a victim stance, while the second one is empower- ing. Sometimes fear of rejection stops us from taking a risk towards bettering our lives. Be brave. Daily mantras can set the stage for positivity. Think about how you want to be and practice it. For example, “I will be patient today”, or “I will be kind”, or “I am a generous person”. Look in the mirror and say it out loud. Try mapping out a plan to fortify your self-esteem with some of the following:
Spring of Light
is the reconnecting of spirit & nature through ceremony & the renewed practices of living in harmony with gratitude and respect. We connect through doing ceremonies, women’s circles & retreats. Spring of Light’s founder, Rabiah Nur, is an Indigenous healer, activist, storyteller, speaker, ceremonialist and daughter of the Great Mother.
• Monitor your self-talk and correct the overly negative self-critic.
Steady Support To Keep Growing
Stay connected and keep up-to-date on events happening: MAILING LIST SIGN UP: https://mailchi.mp/ d0c41e5c1790/spring-of-light-email- sign-up-list INSTAGRAM: @springoflight30 YOUTUBE: youtube.com/channel/ UCieBEmbmh0aKLr4w4jXR7Tw
Compassionate psychotherapy & hypnotherapy in Maryland, in College Park or online. Specialities include anxiety treatment, mindfulness based treatment, and hypnotherapy.
BETH CHARBONNEAU, LCSW-C 301-818-3978 www.bethcharbonneau.com
78—PATHWAYS—Spring 24
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting