How healthy is your self esteem? Nobody is always up, or down for that matter. During 1986, 46-year old Jack Nicklaus was considered a has been and a used to be. He hadn't won a major tournament in six years and had won only a handful in the previous eight. One major newspaper declared him "done, washed up, through." Later that year he proved them wrong.How can Christian men combat the thoughts that come when it seems your critics know you better than you know yourself?
By not allowing the challenges of our daily experiences to negate the positive messages from our internal voice.
Building Self Esteem
We all need and crave a periodic boost to increase our self image. It’s one of the reasons that men surround themselves with a network of friends, family members and associates. But it’s what that tiny voice inside your head is saying to you, that makes all the difference.
To build self esteem you have to be true to yourself by acknowledging your strengths and limitations. Another important step is to accept and value yourself unconditionally.
“The Bear” was able to overcome any self defeating thoughts and raise his golf game to a level above par. While Nicklaus's rivals stumbled, he shot a 30 on the back nine at Augusta, and 65 for the day. He went on to win the Masters that year. In one impossible afternoon, Nicklaus proved age was relative and anything was possible.
(image from Google)
Understanding Yourself
The picture you have of yourself is rooted in your childhood experiences. Our self-esteem continues to develop and evolve throughout our lives as we build an image of ourselves through our experiences with different people and activities.
According to the University of Texas at Austin Counseling and Mental Health Center, “Our past experiences, even the things we don't usually think about, are all alive and active in our daily life in the form of an Inner Voice. Although most people do not "hear" this voice in the same way they would a spoken one, in many ways it acts in a similar way, constantly repeating messages to us.”
Self Nurturing
Try using one or more of these 4 techniques for self-nurturing. They were developed from recommendations at the counseling and mental health website.
Step 1: Rebut the Inner Critic
The first important step in improving self-esteem is to begin to challenge negative messages, if you’re experiencing a critical inner voice.
Step 2: Seek Spiritual Guidance
Use prayer,meditation and the bible to maintain a personal connection with God, who’s looking for those who are faithful to show himself strong on their behalf.
Step 3: Practice Self-Nurturing
Make a list of things you like about yourself. Or keep a 'success' file of awards, certificates and positive letters or citations where you can see them.
Step 4: Get Help from Others
Teachers, friends and Christian counselors can provide advice or recommend other types of professional help, if you need it.
Building Your Mates Self Esteem
Sometimes you may find yourself being a cheerleaders in someone else’s corner. As a husband and father, you should want to support and encourage your wife and children to become who God created them to be.
If you want to find more facts and discussions about building self-esteem try these helpful resources.
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