How you feel about yourself develops in childhood and continues up to present time. All of your experiences or lack of, all of our interactions with others contribute to your feeling about self, your self confidence or your self esteem. Even when you feel good about yourself you will still have “days” that will throw you off course and make you question yourself. Take a deep breath, refocus, use some of the ideas in this little book and get back on track.

 

 

Self love is the most important thing to feeling good and building strong self confidence. If you don’t feel good about yourself nothing else in life is going to happen! So let the self love begin.

 

 

 

Try this. Purchase a little note book, pick one up at one of those discount stores, and now start. Make a list of all your personal and professional accomplishments or successes. Remember every accomplishment no matter how small you perceive it to be is a success. Go back to your earliest memories and list your achievements in this book, Write on the cover “My Success Book.” Now note the answers to these questions. Did you win a coloring contest or spelling bee in primary school? Did you learn to ride a bike, roller skate, ice skate, play a musical instrument, dance, swim, ski, draw, speak second language? These are all of your achievements, accomplishments, successes. Go through your activities/projects and list all that you have done. Note each and everyone up to the present day.

Now on a go forward basis note daily success, weekly success. You will discover you are far more successful than you give yourself credit for. Your Success Book will allow you to focus on you, bring forward just how good you are and help you build new successes on the foundation of past successes.  

 

 

 

 

Every single day of your life try to focus on positive thoughts at all times. Thoughts define your actions. Negative thoughts are like weights that drag you down and positive thoughts are like helium balloons that soar you upward. The negative is bound to creep in but as soon as it does replace with a positive thought. Try this. At the end of each day, for a week, make a list of negative thoughts you had that day, now next to them write down a positive thought you can use to replace that negative thought. It will take practice to switch from the negatives to the positives, but you can do it. If you think negative thoughts you will have negative feelings and poor achievement so fill your thoughts with positives and create a life filled with positive energy and positive results.

 

 

Research shows that facial muscles used for smiling trigger positive chemicals in the body, the reverse is true for frowns! Try this. On days either at work or at home if you are feeling down for one reason or another, just start to smile. Break into a smile, force it if you have to and hold for a few seconds and release repeat for 12-15 times. You will begin to feel happier. The body is like a computer, it responds to tasks, so if you smile your body responds as if you are happy and you begin to feel happy!

 

 

 Life Idea # 5            See the Glass Half Full

Kick those down days up a notch by focusing on the positives in your life, they are there if you look. Change the “Woe is me”” into “”Wow is me”. Try this. Stop for awhile and deliberately and purposefully look around your world and each day for a week make written notes of positive things that are happening around you. Maybe the sun is shining, or the rain that is falling is watering the lawn. You quickly find a parking space at work, a co-worker greets you, the cabbie has the correct change, your coffee tastes great, your car starts right away, your gloves feel warm and cozy, the gentle breeze refreshes, the night sky is filled with stars. Review your written record at weeks end. Try for another week.

 

 

 

This has nothing to do with religious beliefs but comes from my Mother who always said you can catch more flies with honey than lemon. I have found this to be true in life. Try this. You’ll feel good and so will others and it’s contagious.

Surprise your secretary, co-worker or friend with a morning coffee, muffin or homemade treat.

Treat your kids to a surprise desert.

Leave a note of kind words on a loved ones pillow.

Mail an invite for a lunch/dinner date to friend/partner/spouse.

Smile at a senior on the street or grocery store.

Email/phone/write a note to a friend or family member you haven’t seen for awhile.

You get the idea, try kindness, you’ll feel better about yourself.

Life Idea # 7              Get Fit 

 

Feeling good about your body makes you feel good all over. It’s never too late to start. Try this. Getting fit or staying fit involves two basic concepts, eating well and moving. Another important aspect is commitment, so set up a monitoring system, either self monitor or get a buddy. Set realistic goals. Keep a journal. Check your progress. Keep going even if you miss a day. Remember. In your get fit plan, as on life’s highway, there will be “parking spaces” along the way so if you decide to park for a day or two that’s ok, when you are ready just pull out and move on again. Life’s highway is filled with “parking spaces,” let’s make them temporary ones.

Please check with your doctor before beginning any fitness regime.

 

Remember the instructions given on onboard airplanes. ‘Please secure your oxygen mask before assisting anyone else’. Take care of your self first. Try this.

Take one night a week for your grooming and personal care needs. Wednesday night is good, mid week. Groom eyebrows, legs, manicure finger nails, toe nails, condition hair, treat yourself to a bubble bath. Pamper yourself, you deserve it.

Looking good makes you feel better.