Many people suffer low self-esteem—defined here as how well one likes and appreciates oneself. The easiest route to improvement lies through one’s self-image or self-concept as some call it—defined here as one’s picture of Self. People can improve self-esteem by consciously working to improve their role in the world—the who and what of their Self—while trying their best to ignore dislike for themselves.
For women, self-laudatory accomplishments of little things help—for example, saving more money, cooking new dishes, earning praise at school or work, becoming more punctual, memorizing verse, reading a worthwhile book, dumping bad habits, learning new skills, volunteering for charity work. It’s important to remember successes, forgive and forget mistakes, and this encourages one to keep driving onward.
Better clothing and more attentive grooming helps immensely. Paying greater attention to her appearance programs her subconscious with many improvements about who and what she is. For example, it’s anachronistic, but 100 hair brush strokes daily helps even though modern researchers claim healthier hair does not result. The time spent brushing in the mirror is productive. Her female nature energizes her to make the most of what she’s got, and so she easily comes up with new ideas for better grooming and appearance.
Whether brushing hair or not, as she daily devotes more time and energy to better grooming, the small improvements she perceives improve her self-image. Each day‘s success—whether recognized by others or just her—makes her feel better about her female self. The better she looks to herself, often measured by the reaction of others, the faster she learns in iddy-biddy steps to like her female self. So, women less successful as female should look to exercising greater self-control over what they can change—their self-image. Improved sense of greater fulfillment will follow.
This is very true. I’m in a situation where I don’t get out of the house very often. Even though I’m single, I still want to look presentable. I was so depressed at first that I wore PJs all day and never let my hair down. But the more I learn about myself (through the Lord) and the power I have as a woman, I take better care of myself. I even use better products. So, thank you.
(It’s kind of funny how this is the posting I chose to reply to. I’m reading each of them, one by one, and am learning so much. I appreciate them all and wish someone had told me sooner:)
Erna
Princess Erna,
I love it when pretty women tell me such things.
Guy
Thank you again for such a wonderful post. I just love them. They bring up different emotions in me, happy, sad, devastation, encouragement, angry, hopeful and grateful. In the deepest part of my kidneys, I know that they are all true. My self-esteem is a wreck and so is my marriage. I see now where I have gone wrong from my appearance all the way to my aggression with my emotions. My husband has hurt me but I could have had a better response to it all. I am going to glean all that I can from your blog and apply it and share it with my friends (a lot who are single and can’t find dates). God gave men and women roles to play and it works in harmony for his will. Whenever we cast aside his directions things will and have always failed including the family. God knows what is best for us, afterall He created us.
Your Beautifulness Ettisen,
Since you’re relatively new around the blog, perhaps #806 could be of particular interest.
Guy