A Good Self-image IS Success! - 6/3/2008
It is no exaggeration if I start off by stating, with absolute certainty, that a strong positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success in your career, as well as in your life.
Most psychologists identify low self-esteem as the root cause of failure and mediocrity, and I agree. My knowledge comes from 27 years of observing myriad people – watching how they function, and how their triumphs or humiliations are absolutely caused by the mental images they have of themselves.
Your Self-image Is The Very Core Of Your Personality
I can promise you that your self-image (the way you see yourself) is the very core of your personality and it determines more about you than any other single factor affecting your practice or your personal life. In my study of success over all these years, it became essential for me to understand why self-esteem was so crucial, not only for my personal career, but so I can help all of you become more personally and professionally successful.
As I began to really see how the picture I had of me affected my whole life, I decided right then to reprogram and change that picture for the better, no matter how long it would take…and I strongly suggest you do the same.
Why is the mental picture you have of yourself so crucial a factor in determining how for you will go in your life or your career? It’s because your self-esteem shapes the choices you make – your choice of friends, your location, your technique, and even your choice of how you react to everything! It determines your attitude toward yourself and the people around you. Your capacity to grow and learn, your action steps, the appearance of your office, the staff you select, your fee structure, the amount of money you make and even the amount of money you keep – all are affected by your mental self-image.
The way you see yourself has a profound impact on your family relationships, your business relationships and your personal relationships and I have no doubt that those of you who enjoy the most successful practice and home life have the most confidence and the best self-images.
Do You Really Like Yourself?
Let me ask you a question: “Do you really like yourself? Now before you jump to a quick answer – that, of course you like yourself –you should consider some facts. Professional councelors tell us that most people quickly respond that they do like themselves, only to discover that they really do not like themselves or that they are stuck with certain areas of their lives that they don’t like.
Liking yourself comes from high self-esteem. In fact, the inner force of self- esteem either propels a person to success and happiness, or it drags that personal down.
A Good Positive Self-Image Is Not:
1. Self-Centered Egotism
In fact, if you want a formula for failing and misery, the first ingredient is to think only of yourself. Those who think only of themselves and what they want find it hard to be happy with anything they get and most of their personal relationships are frustrating and disappointing. Gaining the respect and cooperation of others is difficult at best.
2. Disdain For Others
Those who have strong and healthy self-images don’t look down at others, tear others down, need to win or be right and are rarely critical of others’ achievements.
3. Personal Complacency, Laziness, Procrastination or Lies
These characteristics are barometers of a very low self-image. They are traits of those who take little or no responsibility, or who make excuses, give alibis, use rationalizations and always defend themselves.
By the way, as a side note, I am only discussing this with you and taking your valuable time, because a doctor, C.A. or anyone can never rise higher than their self-image, the pictures they have of themselves. You can only grow to the level of “who you are inside your skin. A failure-type self-image will find a way to fail, despite good intentions, skill or opportunities dropped into heir lap.
I truly believe that the reason teaching strategies (tell me what to DO action steps) do not work in so many cases is because unless we can teach chiropractors to understand that life and success work in accordance with a person’s self-esteem and image…which is the foundation of our Identity-Based model.
A Good Positive Self-Image Is:
1. Accepting Yourself As The Person You Are
Total unconditional acceptance in yourself is the first step, not only in building a positive self-image, but in practice, marriage, and financial ability too! All of us have characteristics we don’t like about ourselves and they can be of one or two kinds: Physical characteristics that we can do little about (height, nose, etc.), or emotional characteristics, those we acquired or those we had programmed into us (fear, anger, jealousy, poverty consciousness or lack and limitation thinking).
You just need to remember that nobody’s perfect, but parts of you are excellent. Focus on the strong elements of your personality, of your body, of your attitudes and you will have the basis of building a stronger self-image. You ARE unique and different, right? So accept yourself and let’s get on with it!
2. Holding Warm and Non-Judgmental Regards For Others
Those who truly feel good about themselves don’t compare themselves to others. As a matter of fact, Zig Zigler’s book, “See You At The Top,” states over and over again that winners compare their achievements to their goals and losers compare their achievements to others. A good signal of those who have good self-images is that they generally like and trust others and are thrilled to see them win!
3. A Willingness To Risk
Even a lobster has to shed its shell and grow a new one, if it is to grow. The process of growing and learning always involves risk and we have found that those who are not growing are those who are afraid to risk or change, even though they say they want to achieve more happiness or success. They are afraid to make mistakes so they don’t take any chances.
4. Finding Positive Ways To Express Your Individuality
People with strong self-images are satisfied to be themselves regardless of what anyone thinks about them. Their manner of dress, style of practice and personal lives are selected by them. They do not let another person, circumstance, event or anything determine who they are or how they should feel.
5. Being Self-reliant
Winners know that they are the cause, the “buck stops here,” and they accept responsibility for their actions and results. They completely understand that they cannot blame their troubles or shortcomings on any person, circumstance or system. They look within themselves for answers as to how things got a certain way and how things can be changed for the better. You won’t find them fixing the blame, taking the credit or being right. They just set a goal, tell themselves something – and do it! Their entire attitude says I can and I will.
A Good Self-Image IS Success
A good definition of success is, “Finding and doing, to the best of your ability, in each moment of your life, what you enjoy doing the most, what you can do the best, and what has the greatest possibility of providing the means to live, as you would like to live in relation to yourself and all the people you value.”
A strong positive self-image can give you the character to face any obstacle that stands in you way. With high self-esteem you can meet the most disappointing and discouraging situations with faith, hope, courage, guts, tenacity and audacity. Yes, it is as simple as that – if you like yourself, believe in yourself and trust yourself.
How do you grow a healthy self-esteem? Here are some pointers that I used to change my life, and if I was able to do it, you surely can.
1. Self-Acceptance
2. Stop saying all those mean and ugly things about yourself
3. Set some future goal and affirm it daily
4. Go to work on the thing you need to and change (dishonesty, lack of integrity, lateness, procrastination, anger, hatred, cheapness) and all bad habits that rob you of self-respect and therefore your self-image.
5. Act as if you have a positive mental attitude
6. Seek our other positive and good self-image coaches
7. Be self-reliant
8. Start giving love, acceptance, appreciation, recognition and approval to others
9. Join a MasterMind Club for support and re-focusing
10. Make a list of all victories and successful experiences
11. Prepare yourself for the task
12. Be sure to plan your time
13. Stop talking and start listening
Remember, winners are made, not born! The primary difference between winners and losers is attitudinal! Winners set goals and losers make excuses. One of the most important parts of a winner’s attitude is a strong, positive self-image – a firm belief that you have value as a person. If you believe you have value as a person’ if you enjoy the success you achieve, if you like yourself, if you believe in your abilities and if you are willing to risk loving yourself and others, you are on your way to winning…because YOU HAVE A GOOD SELF-IMAGE!
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