Life With Gene

Guest Post by Tara Springett

Focusing on Self Confidence

In my work as a counselor I have never met anybody (including myself) who did not suffer from some form of low self-confidence at times. In moments of vulnerability everyone doubts their attractiveness, their competence and even their basic being.

People may say to themselves, ‘there is something wrong with me but I don’t know what it is’ or ‘I am not sure that anybody could truly love me if they really knew how I am’.

Many are also affected by some (semi-)religious ideas that deep down they are ‘bad’ and always will be ‘bad’. Doubts about ourselves and feelings of low-esteem seems to be a universal condition that virtually everybody is suffering from in one form or another.

What can we do about our low self-confidence?

Many people think they have to build up something in their mind in order to have good self-confidence. So they may try hard to think positively and may say many positive affirmations in the hope that this psychic energy will somehow construct the part of their mind that they feel is missing.

The good news is that we do not need to work hard to build up our self-confidence. Read more…

Guest Article – by Dalia Ashraf Mounir Ibrahim

How do you perceive yourself?

Are you brimming with self confidence; mentally and emotionally strong; feeling adequate with your intellectual capacity?

Do you speak your mind freely without fearing what others might think or say about you? Do you settle for less than respect?

How much on a scale from one to ten do you believe in yourself?

“A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.” ~David Brinkley~

Many get emotionally devastated when someone rejects them or disagrees.

They let go of what they believe in and start believing what others say. They dig a deep hole and get stuck in it. They’re stuck because they allowed seeds of negativity planted by others to grow and begin to agree with what others have said.

This type of thinking can only lead you down a path of self-judgment and self-criticism; creating unwanted feelings that you’re just not good enough – inadequate. Read more…

Self acceptance is vital to enjoying a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Do you accept yourself as you are right now?

Probably not! Chances are your self-criticism and self-judgment is quite severe. You might believe your not good enough, smart enough, handsome/beautiful enough, you’re out of shape or over weight, your too short or too tall, not educated, too angry and the list goes on forever.

Continuing reading and learn how to accept your self and what you will gain from it.

I easily remember my teenage years, when comparing myself to other boys I felt inadequate. I did not live up to my own expectations of the “ideal” size, shape, appearance and personality of other teenagers.

Even throughout much of my adult life I continued to judge myself based on others. Then I realized everyone was doing the same thing. We tend look at others to see what we lack in our own lives.

We look outside ourselves for validation and acceptance. This is a learned response from childhood. The biggest fear of a child is being abandoned – left alone.

Therefore, children will do whatever it takes to receive attention and feel accepted. Watch children as they play and you will notice they constantly look to their parents for approval and acceptance.

Knowing this information, how can it help you?

Read more…