Self-Esteem

     I read an interesting article on Yahoo regarding self-esteem and women.  In the article, the author describes how her own mother would complain about how big her nose was and yet as a child the author saw her mom as a beautiful "hottie".  Recently, I read a different article on thinning hair in women.  I have suffered with thin hair most of my life.  Part of it could be from a childhood activity I used to perform to gain attention from my family--the rugrat!  (Don't ask!)  The rest of it could simply be a result of heredity.  My hair has always been a source of concern of mine.  After reading this article though, I realized that even those celebrities that play fictional characters have their issues with thin hair.  They just happen to have the money to afford solutions to "fix" the problems.

     So why do we compare ourselves to others?  We are beautiful in our own right!  Every one of us is loved by someone.  Recently, a friend of mine explained that when she puts herself down, her boyfriend told her that it is a complete turn off.  Another friend of mine said that when she verbally bashed herself, her boyfriend said to her, "Do you realize what that says about me?  I love you for you."

    Our self-esteem effects others around us.  Imagine for a moment that you are looking at yourself in the mirror and you tug on a muffin top and say, "God I'm so fat and ugly!"  What you don't realize is that 4 or 5 year old daughter is observing you.  What message are you sending her then when you tell her that she's beautiful?  She is of your flesh and blood.  Your wrinkles, stretchmarks, sagging boobs and thinning hair will be hers someday.  What are you going to teach her?

     The same can be said for the sons of humanity.  Men have self-esteem issues as well.  We're always promoting the images of hot, sexy young men.  So what happens to them when they aren't that ideal?  They have negative self-talk just like women (they're just more careful about who they say it around). So what can we do?

     Curb the negative self-talk.  Instead, focus on the positive.  Notice what makes you, you.  Enjoy the things that your body can do; practice yoga, work out, go for a walk, or meditate.  Think of who loves you and why they do.  Think about who watches you and what effects that you have on them.  Just be.