I Think, Therefore I Am

Let’s look at two sentences:

1. I have a low self-image

2. The way that I'm thinking limits me and makes me feel bad

There’s a great difference between the two

we HAVE a heart a brain lungs feel and so on they are parts of out body someone might also HAVE the flu a strep throat or an ear infection a person might HAVE a house a car a telephone a pen and a book here the world HAVE refers to something we own however when it comes to the way we view ourselves there is no HAVE there are only patterns of thinking

one might think of himself in a positive or negative way where we view this as a pattern of thinking it is much easier to improve the situation we don't have to change what we have or who we are we need to improve their way we think of ourselves as we do this we will be more open to speaking and acting in ways that help us accomplish more and feel better

for example: a person might feel that he lacks a sense of importance and worth it’s easy to see why he might say I have a low self-image but if he realizes that this is a pattern of thinking he can also realize that it would be beneficial to think right now I don't think of myself as having sufficient value and worth instead I focus more on what is wrong with me rather than on what is right with me and how can I continue to improve what can I think, say and do that will enable me to increase my sense of value and worth and build my self-image?

Let’s repeat the last sentence:

What can I think say and do to increase my sense of value and worth and build my self-image?

Repeating the thought many times strengthens you resolve to think and act in a way that leads to a better self-image

Realizing that the entire issue of self-image is an issue of thought we can and should commit ourselves to improving our thinking

You will find ideas to help you THINK YOUR WAY to a better self-image and once you know these different positive patterns you will be more aware of other ideas that can continue building your self-image ideas you read hear and think of yourself

People frequently ask WHY DO I HAVE A POOR SELF-IMAGE? There is only one real answer if you have a poor self-image it is because of the way you think about yourself think better thoughts and you'll change your self-image

People have given many reasons to justify having a poor self-image see if any of your reason are included below:

• my parents didn't believe in me
• my parents believed in me so much that I became discouraged and gave up because I could never fulfil their expectations
• I was treated badly
• I was ignored as a child
• I know people who are brighter and more successful and I look down on myself for being less than they are
• I don't have some talents or skills that others have
• I am dissatisfied with the way I look or the way that I'm afraid other think I look
• I keep focusing on a handicap that I have
• people around me have verbally put me down
• I didn't have friends
• I felt rejected
• I was very different from the other people around me
• it’s my physical appearance
• an older sibling made fun of me
• I was younger then my siblings
• others laughed at me
• my accent is funny
• I was called bad names
• I lost a number of games and decided that I'm a loser
• I considered myself stupid
• I had more life challenges then others
• I'm shy

REALIZING THAT THE ENTIRE ISSUE OF SELF-IMAGE IS AN ISSUE OF THOUGHT WE CAN AND SHOULD COMMIT OURSELVES TO IMPROVING OUR THINKING

• I'm afraid to speak in public
• I'm obsessive-compulsive
• my teachers didn't believe in my potential abilities
• I received low grades in school