Develop A Healthy Self-Concept

How you view yourself, or your self-concept, is how you will experience life. If it is positive and healthy you will experience life in a positive and healthy way. If it is shaky and fragile you will find life's challenges overwhelming and at times insurmountable.

What is your self-concept?

It is the understanding and knowledge you have of your own existence. It is how you see yourself in relation to others and to your surroundings.

To have a positive or healthy self-concept you must:

• Know yourself
• Love yourself
• Be True to yourself

In order to meet the challenges of today's complicated world, we must build a solid foundation of self-knowledge, self-love and self-confidence.

Your self-concept is more than just having high self-esteem. Although high self-esteem is important, the term can be misleading.

Self-esteem is your feelings of self-worth based on your beliefs about being valuable and capable. It is your self-image, either positive or negative, at an emotional level.

When it's based on emotion, self-esteem can be wavering and vulnerable to threats.

If it's obtained from external factors, such as an attractive physical appearance, or being popular, you can feel on top of the world one day, and find yourself disillusioned or disappointed on the next.

In the end a healthy self-concept must come from within. Instead of relying on external sources for validation, it should be the outcome of self-reflection and self-analysis.

What constitutes a healthy self-concept?

• The ability to know yourself; to be able to assess your strengths, weaknesses, talents and potential.
• The ability to love and accept yourself as you are, knowing that you can improve and develop any aspects of yourself that you choose.
• The ability to be honest with yourself and be true to who you are and what you value.
• The ability to take responsibility for your choices and actions.

You develop a healthy self-concept through self-assessment, planning, and effort. You acquire the necessary life skills that can help you take on the challenges that life presents and you integrate them with the your knowledge and experience.

When you maintain a solid self-concept nothing can rattle you or take you off your stride. You are confident and assured because you know that you are able to handle the adversities and challenges that come your way.

"9 Essential Life Skills - A Guide for Personal Development and Self-Realization" - The Book