Rockhurst Sentinel

Issue date: 2/5/07 Section: Entertainment

February is the month of love. Though most people instantly think of a romantic love, it is important to remember love of self as well. Many people are not able to love themselves like they should because they do not have enough self esteem to view themselves as worthy of being loved. Throughout the month of February try to put some of these tips on improving your self-esteem into use.

1. You should surround yourself with people who are positive and supportive, and shun friends who are cynical and negative.

2. You should be clear about what you want to achieve in life. Set goals, and work for their achievement. To make your task easier, break your main goal into several smaller goals which are relatively easier to achieve.

3. Always be positive about yourself and keep in mind your good qualities, your accomplishments and how you help your family, friends, othersand even you. Don't make the mistake of brooding over negative things, and never put yourself down.

4. Develop the ability to accept criticism about yourself, without getting upset or defensive. However, make sure that the criticism is constructive. Don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed by criticism that is cynical or meant to lower your self-esteem.

5. We all need to accept the fact that we will fail from time to time. We should not let it get us down or to have too much of a negative effect on us. We should think that we have not been successful this time and that we will succeed the next time.

6. Never compare yourself with others. This is the easiest way to feel inferior and to lose self-esteem. It is much better to rate yourself on your achievements.

7. Never put yourself down. Failures are like parasites. If you allow them to grow they will eat away your self-confidence, self-respect and self-esteem. The best is to push negative thoughts out of your mind, if you want others to treat you with respect.

8. Don't give in to bullies. You must learn to stand up to them. This can only happen if you are assertive about your rights. Of course, this does not mean that you should pick physical battles to make your point. On the contrary, you should exercise restraint and make your point in a dignified manner.

9. Self-esteem is also dependent upon the felling of well-being. A lazy person or a poorly groomed person will always feel inferior to a confident, smart individual. So, you need to take good care of your body.

For more information on self-love and self-esteem visit the Counseling Center page on the Rockhurst website, visit the Counseling Center in Massman 3 or call X4275.

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