Becoming a Better You

If happiness comes from within, then why does it seem incredibly difficult for so many people to find contentment with themselves? Why is it that poor self esteem and personal insecurities haunt so many of us? Often times it is because we have been conditioned over time to believe in the negative image we have of ourselves. The majority (if not the whole) of these negative images are actually the result of other peoples lack of self-confidence projected onto us and the view of ourselves compared to unrealistic standards of beauty or success. Self concept or self identity comes from persistent assessment of ones self, however, too many times this assessment is based on false perceptions and distorted images. Over time, the distorted image becomes our reality.

At other times discontentment can be a result of our fear of failure or even fear of success. Humans tend to resist change for fear of the unknown, even if we are unhappy in our current condition. A person may stay in a dead-end job or unhealthy relationship simply because it is familiar or comfortable rather than venture into uncertainty. This thought process becomes crippling and potential is stagnated in favor of fear and familiarity.

Self-doubt and a fear to take risks may be all that stand between you and a happy, fulfilling life. Examine your thoughts and beliefs to find out what steps you need to take towards becoming a better you. There are several factors that comprise our entire self image and self esteem. By being honest with yourself about how you feel about yourself, you can acknowledge and confront the issues that must be addressed in order to promote a healthier self image.

Self improvement encompasses our physical, emotional, and mental being. What area or areas do you want to improve and why do you want to improve those areas? The latter may seem like a silly question but it is equally important. For example, if you want to loose weight because you want to look like your favorite movie star, then you may find trouble reaching your goal as it likely to be unrealistic and may not provide true motivation. However, if you want to loose a few pounds to reach a healthy weight because your doctor says you are at risk for heart disease, then that, coupled with the smile of your precious child, may be enough motivation to loose the pounds and even run a marathon when you reach your goal weight!