Me, Myself and I

As anyone with struggling with self-esteem issues knows, how you perceive yourself and your abilities has a powerful influence on the outcome of your life. Believing in ourselves gives us the courage to take initiative and do the things that can bring us success and happiness; making the effort to talk to an attractive stranger at a party, presenting a new idea to our boss, or joining a running club. When we feel we have something valuable to offer, we feel ALIVE! We're friendlier, more positive and even healthier. Doubting our worth, on the other hand, can paralyze us and squash our potential. So what's the key to achieving this blissful state of self-acceptance and inner confidence?

For years, psychologists have been suggesting different ways to boost self-esteem, from positive affirmations to asking friends to write a list of what they like most about you. All of these techniques can certainly be powerful, but new approaches are focused on ACTION. Spending time reflecting and writing in journals can help you find the root of your self-image, but isn't likely to build it up. To truly beat that nagging internal critic - who is most often much nastier than anyone else judging our character - we need to get out there and do things to strengthen our sense of self. If you're shy and doubt your ability to make friends, make small steps to be friendlier at work, or join a club. If you feel inferior at work, take a chance and voice your opinion at office meetings. As you meet with success, you'll feel more and more confident. Of course, you may have the occasional let down; even the most confident people run into glitches, but they recognize that it's nothing personal and separate it from their self-image. The more you behave the way you imagine a person with strong self-esteem would behave, the more you will become that kind of person. So bust a move!