I’m sure you’ve seen her. You might even know her. That super confident, always poised person who isn’t swept up in the opinions of others. Her healthy social relationships are relaxed and joyful. Although she values her friends and family, she’s strong enough to make good decisions without crumbling to the pressure or expectations of those around her. Everyone treats her with great respect and seems happier when she’s around. In fact, she’s usually happy herself. Often it even seems that she gets favorable treatment wherever she goes.
Why did she seem to do it with such ease?
Studies have shown that people with healthy self-esteem really are treated differently than people with low-self-esteem. Because of this treatment, it re-enforces what they already believe about themselves. Higher self-esteem people often receive favorable treatment. They’re strengthened by positive past performance and they believe they are and will be successful in what they set out to do.
Low-self-esteem people are often plagued by doubt, past rejections and failure. They are more likely ignored, put down, rejected, not listened to, compared to others or labeled than their higher self-esteem counterparts. Because they rely on others to support and approve of them, they give in to peer pressure more often.
It really does matter what we think about ourselves.
A friend of mine has a note taped by her computer to remind her of this. It says, “Listen to your heart above all other voices.”
~ Marta Kagan
It might not be an overnight process to become the confident, poised person we long to be. But we can start focusing on good, right, true thoughts and then we’ll be one step closer to becoming that person we truly long to be. Tell me what you’ve done to be the woman you want to be.
Darlene Davis (59)
Toni King (29)
Peter Fuller MBA (25)
Belinda Cunningham (20)
Val Wilcox (16)
June 26th, 2010 at 4:07 am
Hi Linda,
Even though I don’t believe I’ve really thought about what you wrote in your post, I can see how this might be true. It’s all about attitude, and the kind of response you’ll most likely receive from people if you are smiling, social and approachable, is a positive one! Perhaps it has to do with the energy that we give off to others that make them respond, or not respond a certain way. What do you think? Anyway, great post Linda
Christine
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Linda Grace Reply:
June 26th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Thank you Christine~ Yes, I started learning this concept when I was in college and my children were born. As they grew and I saw other children, some feeling good about themselves and others not, I witnessed first hand the affects of self-esteem. I’m grateful that my parents started at my young age teaching me my value.
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