Sara 'The Mass' Massoud

Got Confidence?

Check out the YouTube V-log segment that accompanies this blog at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCuWzmTSKvo&feature=plcp

Self esteem is defined as “the value we place within ourselves.”  This value is based upon our opinions and beliefs, and interestingly enough, what we think of ourselves is eighty percent formed by the age of six years old.  Think back to when you were five or six years old and what factors were influencing you at that time; there were people in your life shaping your view of yourself, such as parents, siblings, teachers, peers and friends.  You were continually having experiences in those formative years that were shaping who you were and how you would ultimately come to esteem yourself.    As we’ve grown into our adulthood, we have been molded by this view of ourselves, as well as by all of the other outside opinions and pressures that society and our family, friends, mentors, and peers have placed on us.  Over the years, we have developed an image in our mind of who we are, who we want to be, and how we think we are viewed by others.  This image has become an identity.  It is the dialogue that we talk to ourselves with.  It is present in how we carry ourselves, how we portray ourselves to others, and how we interact in our personal and professional lives.  This can range from a very positive self-image to very poor self-esteem and low confidence.    Think about that for a moment…  How do you talk to yourself?  Are you constantly saying positive things to affirm your confidence and pride, or is there a negative dialogue that exists within your mind?  What makes you stand up taller or feel more pride from within?  When do you feel the most secure and confident?  And when do you feel the most insecure? 

I am going to share a piece of a philosophical quote that I found by an unknown author, and it says,  “…Those who choose acceptance as their predominant way of being, find it to be a pleasing and powerful creative choice, and that is a choice that consistently yields to desired results.”  This quote really resonates with me.  Essentially what it is saying is that if we accept ourselves and are happy and content from within, that will enable us to act in line with who we authentically are and ultimately lead to positive and favorable outcomes in our lives.  And the positive momentum that you create from within will surge outward and create a ripple effect in your life… all of the positive thoughts and energy will draw in, or attract, the same type of energy (Law of Attraction) and positive results.  On the flip side, if we are talking negatively to ourselves, or feeling badly about ourselves and acting from fear or guilt or low self-esteem, we can create the opposite type of effect, where find ourselves on a downward spiral.   Pay attention to this, and check in with yourself to see if you are at peace from within.  

It’s important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to live.  There is such a thing as moral integrity and right or wrong, but the key to remember is that we are all human and we all make mistakes.   We must forgive ourselves, learn from our mistakes, grow, and evolve.  We must own our mistakes, so that they are integrated into our being as growth opportunities and not as negative experiences.  If we beat ourselves up over every mistake we make, we will destroy our confidence and self-esteem and identify ourselves only from our choices and even more dangerous, define ourselves from the shadow that lives within us.  Find the light within you, strip away the fear, rejection, guilt, judgments and blocks that have built up from choices you have made or negative experiences in your life, and just be you, authentic and beautiful YOU!  Learn to love yourself and create a wholeness from within that will radiate out to the world and create a very positive effect on your life.