If we want to learn a new skill or improve an existing one, it takes time and practice and working on your self esteem is exactly the same! But just because you want to improve your self image and make it more positive, it doesn't mean that you're self obsessed, it's all about respecting yourself and appreciating your worth.
If you're anything like I used to be, you may have experienced some self image issues and it seems to me that for the most part, being overweight and suffering low self esteem go hand in hand.
It doesn't have to be that way though, by changing the way you think and the way you see yourself, you can build your self esteem.
Here are some tips on how to improve your own positive public relations crusade: * Be nice to yourself - Do you ever find yourself thinking "I'm stupid", "I'm ugly" or "I'm lazy" or saying other mean things? Would you ever say things like that to a friend? Of course not, so why do we do it to ourselves? Constantly remind yourself that you should treat yourself as well, if not better, than you would treat anyone else.
Compliment yourself often or buy yourself a gift.
* Take responsibility - and by that I don't mean taking the blame! Do you think that stuff happens TO you or that YOU are in control? It's important to take responsibility without judgement, which means you accept that you were doing the best you could with the knowledge that you had at the time.
Taking the blame is just another way to beat yourself up! * Don't be a bully (to yourself!) - Shoulda, coulda, woulda..
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There's no point chastising yourself afterwards for what you 'should' have done.
Why are we constantly 'shoulding' all over ourselves?! Expecting to be perfect and then punishing yourself when you fail is a vicious cycle that is of no benefit.
I used to great at punishing myself in this way, but now I take it easier on myself and realise that I made the best decision I could with the information that I had at the time and move on! * No-one's perfect - so, accept yourself! You are who you are right now and you need to accept that and be happy about it.
It doesn't mean that you will remain the same, but if you resist your reality right now, you will always stay where you are.
* Let go of the past - it's important not to dwell on what has happened in the past, if you do it will only serve to affect your future.
It's important to try and forgive those for things that happened in the past and move on, an important part of this process is also to remember to forgive yourself! If you use just a couple of the above strategies as much as you can, it will significantly increase your self image and also your self esteem.
What we focus on is what we get! The more you focus on the positives, the easier it will be to see yourself with a different perspective.