Building a Positive Self Image

Building a positive self image is a constructive approach to help you get to your destination. The practice of building a positive self image gives you a psychological map to your unconscious and conscious behaviors.

When you mentally focus on where it is you want to go, and you're committed to reaching your destination, your actions usually follow. Literally speaking, your actions come from your images. That is, you usually won't act if you haven't already seen yourself mentally rehearsing the situation. How you visually depict yourself, in any given situation, is what you will become, and how you will act. When you reinforce your images in a positive way, positive things happen. Focusing on making  positive, pleasurable changes in your life reinforces you with uplifting feelings of self-confidence and self-determination.

Imagine yourself walking down a path across a field and coming to a barbed-wire fence. If you see the fence as an insurmountable barrier toward completing your goal, then the barrier will remain. When you see the fence as having a gate in it, or when you find a way of going over, around or through it, then the fence is merely one more obstacle to overcome. Nothing more, nothing less.

When you give too much power to any obstacle, or person, you automatically place yourself in a no-win situation. One way to overcome this no-win situation is to change the rules. See the situation as an opportunity, or challenge, to use your imagination - your mind. When the situation is no longer challenging or healthy, and you're using too much energy with few results, choose a new direction where there will be new challenges and opportunities. There's no reason to set yourself up for failure or punishment. Deciding to create positive beliefs and expectations about yourself influences the actions you take.

You can change your situation by focusing on making moderate changes and giving careful thought to your long-term goals. A goal to complete a degree from a four-year college within six years is not unrealistic. Don't expect to do it in two and set yourself up for failure. Choose a plan you can realistically follow. Emotional, physical, and mental plateaus and peaks are normal experiences on the road to success. Focusing on your progress and remembering where you started creates confidence and courage. Improving yourself, and your life, requires concentration and self-discipline. Appreciate the journey. When you apply yourself, you will do it!

When you believe in yourself, you feel capable of encouraging yourself and others, professionally and personally. Your attitude and self esteem reach new heights. High self esteem and building a positive self image may help you overcome problems that may otherwise overwhelm you.

Belief in yourself will ultimately result in having others believe in you. When you have a direction, and know where you are going, you will increase your ability to perform a particular task. When you build a positive self image and have social and emotional support from others, you're more hopeful and experience less stress.

You also have an amazing ability to cope with the damaging effects of negative or condemning statements from others. Hope and self-esteem are the medicine that transforms a negative self-image into a positive one.