|
|
Self Esteem – Acceptance or Forgiveness?
By Tracey Burchard
Just about everybody can work on their self esteem. This
article shows you steps you can take to boost your self
esteem and increase your confidence levels, and feel better
immediately.
We live in a society where, from pretty much the time you
are born, life is about looking good and fitting in.
Think
about it…you feel the way you feel in a large part because
of what you believe, and your beliefs come from may sources.
Think about the advertising you have been subjected to –
beautiful models wearing the hottest clothes…weight loss
commercials, drug commercials,
From an early age, you are programmed to believe that you
don’t have enough, don’t look good enough, don’t make enough
money, don’t have the perfect house, friends, car, clothes,
body…the list goes on and on.
It’s as though you are wrong
about everything, and promotes a belief that you are not
enough, or not good enough.
Think about it – commercials want you to buy their products.
So they make you feel that you’re a nobody if you don’t use
their product.
We watch these commercials, then we think we
don’t measure up because we are not as happy, glamorous,
rich, thin or having as much fun as we are “supposed” to!
What about those fashion magazines? They are filled with ads
and articles for diets, health products, clothes, skin
products and more. Their goal is to make you believe that if
you buy all their stuff, you will be beautiful and happy,
just like all their fancy models.
In our society we are programmed from a very young age that
we are supposed to be “perfect.” And this kind of
programming sets us up for failure – no wonder we have low
self-esteem!
This affects the teen market dramatically – advertising of
diets and models depicted in teen and fashion magazines
contribute significantly to the number of teens with eating
disorders and self esteem problems.
Marketing companies are brilliant – they know what we watch,
when we watch it, what we normally buy, where we buy it, how
much we buy and more. With repetitive advertising they pass
all our conscious filters and program that information right
in. Here are some of the beliefs you might have from
advertising companies programming you…
People have LOTS of Fun when they drink beer.
Wrinkles make you look old and ugly, and wrinkle cream will
make you feel happy and beautiful.
Having a credit card means you are rich and can spend
frivolously.
Are these really true?
Probably not…but it’s exactly what
these companies want you to believe. They want you to buy
their products and they are trying to create a “need.”
Once
you succumb to that need, you buy their products – and admit
that you , indeed, believe in what they are advertising.
Then of course we have the reality shows like “What Not to
Wear” and “10 Years Younger” making us feel like we are not
accepted and loved unless we look young and are wearing
nice, fancy clothes.
Do we really need wrinkle cream? Or are we just comparing
ourselves with air-brushed photos of beautiful models. Have
you ever seen those models without their makeup? Not so
pretty!
Does that American Express card mean you can spend lots of
money and have a lavish lifestyle? Probably not…unless you
already do…but they sure want you to spend lots of money on
their card so they can take their cut…
When we are bombarded with so many hits on our self esteem,
how do we love and accept ourselves for who we are?
We are
consistently assaulted by advertising from multiple sources
insinuating that we can only be perfect, happy and beautiful
if we have their products. How can we overcome this?
First of all, limit your intake of media, and be aware of
the intent of the advertiser. Many times they want you to
feel a pain, or feel badly about yourself so you will “need”
their product.
Accept that you are ok as you are – the people you see on TV
and in magazines are not perfect, either. They are just
portrayed that way to see you something.
Forgive yourself for what you think are your faults…everyone
has problems and issues – that’s a normal part of life. Give
yourself permission to make mistakes, to feel the way
you feel and to not be perfect (perfection is only a myth…).
Forgive society and media for the beliefs and lies that they
have pressed on you – because you are the way you are does
not make you wrong. Find what works for you, find what
makes you feel good…that’s what is right for you.
Measure your value in terms that are meaningful to you – not
necessarily meaningful to society. You may be overweight,
but feel good about yourself because you volunteer…or you
may not fit society’s idea of successful, but feel good
about yourself because you are kind and loving to your
family.
Think about the reasons why other people like you, love you
and appreciate you. See if you can appreciate yourself for
those reasons as well.
Try to identify with the person that
others see in you as they look at you through the eyes of
love, and give yourself permission to love yourself.
************************************
Author Tracey Burchard, Certified Hypnotist, Instructor and
Life Coach helps clients nationwide with phone sessions, and
has created a powerful series of self-improvement CDs using
Emotive Visualization™, a mix of guided imagery, mental
training and physical and emotional senses. She offers a
free newsletter and free downloadable MP3 on her website at
http://www.cdonlinewarehouse.com
Resource Links
  |
|
|
