[I suffer from low self-esteem, what should I do?]
I know quite a few people who are held back simply because they lack self appreciation, from physical shape to how they see themselves in the mirror. This is a very important issue to conquer especially in todays society where size and beauty are rated highly. This leads people who have not been born with good looks or a slim figure to somehow feel less of a person, somehow less than best. The most important thing to note is that nobody looks perfect, even movie stars and models are uncomfortable with the way they look, resorting to cosmetic surgery and other operations. For most people the chances of changing their appearance for example are much lower and so we must learn to see the beauty in ourselves. You will be surprised how much more confident you will feel just by ignoring how you look to others and relaxing societys preconceptions of how you should look. The more things you are uncomfortable with about yourself the harder it is to change the way you feel. This in my case was a major block to overcome as all I could see were the bad points. Yet consider that what you can't change you must make the best of and beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. One way to remove this anxiety is to ignore your physical shape altogether and focus yourself from the inside - under the skin. This is the real you, the you that thinks and feels and this is the you that your best friends are looking at, not necessarily how you look to them.
Some things you can change. For most people bodysize plays a role in their selfconfidence. Some men get around this by building themselves with weights or taking sport exercise. Women find they feel better if they loose weight and make themselves slim. If you can easily keep your body the way you like it though diet and exercise then there is little you need to change to upgrade your body-confidence. Have a good go at healthy living and enjoy your eating and your exercise. If on the other hand you feel tired of trying to impress everybody then stop and take time out for yourself instead. There are NO rules to how you should or shouldn't look and at the end of the day your enjoyment of life should rate NO.1 above all else.
[Yeah, but if I get fat I won't attract a partner!]
Rubbish! If you are less anxious over your shape then you will become more relaxed in yourself. This is what attracts a dedicated partner, who will like you for YOU rather than your shape.
Now take another long look in the mirror, what qualities can you see now? Someone with a good sence of humour?, someone kind and loving?, intelligent, hard working and a whole lot more?. You are just as capable as anyone else to do anything in the world, you can play any sport, do any job, use any tools and even play any musical instruments the world has to offer. Just because you don't choose to play the banjo or practice law enforcment doesn't mean it is too late to become a good banjo player or a good police officer does it. Even though some people may seem to be better than you it is YOU who must realise you are just as good as every other human you may see walking down the street. Physical perfection - who needs it? You could look like anybody and still feel the same as you do now. It's what's inside that counts and in the next section we will see how your inner light can shine for you.
