I think it’s safe to say all of us have met criticism from those around us at one time or another. That’s just a part of life. Even an important one, I may add, as it allows us to know ourselves better and grow as a person. However, when we internalize negative thoughts to the point where we profoundly distort our own self-image, it may have crippling effects on our lives. Our innate ability to meet new challenges with hope and joy may be lost. This is why it’s crucial to undertake the task of facing our fears and re-building our self-confidence. Daunting as it may be, it’s also our path to freedom. Read on to find 7 tips that will help you begin that journey.
1. A work in progress
There’s a key difference between self-confidence and self-esteem: self-confidence has to do with how capable you feel about achieving your goals or expressing your will; self-esteem is more related to the way you feel about yourself: your self-image. The problem with the second concept is that it springs from a dubious concept: the concept of “self”. Even worse, it often leads to the conclusion that you have certain qualities, and that they cannot be changed: you “are” selfish and you will always be because, well, that’s who you are. Unfortunately, in the end, this perspective often leads to suffering. But, what can we do about it?
First of all, we have to realize we can’t say anyone is selfish, in the same way, we affirm a tree is made of wood. What someone judges as selfish, someone else may very well view it differently. Even if you see you tend to behave in a certain way when you’re involved in a particular situation, be certain that you can change the way you act. Ask yourself: what am I really trying to achieve by doing this? Do I do it only under these circumstances, or in other situations as well? What could I do differently next time? Above all, you should always remember: you can change yourself and your reality. You’re truly a work in progress.