Self-image is another of the “self” concepts vital to understanding positive psychology. Though related to the others, it is a separate concept that holds its place & its own significance. Self-image is simply how we see ourselves—both in our own mind and in the mirror. What you see when you look in the mirror & how you picture yourself in your mind is your self-image.
There is a prominent connection between one’s self-image, confidence & performance. People who feel good about themselves come out with better results. In today’s article, we will discuss ways to build a self-image.
The Importance of Building Self-Image
In today’s mental health environment, more people are under pressure to feel or look a definite way. This directly associates with self-esteem & recognizing your self-worth. Self-image can be defined as a state of mind & the emotional & corporeal assessment of your worth.
Promoting healthy behavior is vital to lift people & make them feel good about themselves. When someone experiences a low self-image, this can turn into a vortex of negative thought patterns and, in extreme cases, can lead to substance abuse to cope with it.
Positive self-image can significantly improve an individual’s way of life & help to build healthy & long-lasting relationships with others & yourself. Many researchers state the importance of effectively building self-image & the value of recognizing your self-worth.
Self-image is about how much people value themselves, and also it is essential because how we think about ourselves affects our feelings for ourselves & how we interact with others & the world around us. A positive self-image can enhance physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Ways to Enhance Your Self-Image
Improving self-image isn’t as hard as it seems—you just need to follow some simple steps consistently.
1. Wake Up in a Good Mood
Optimism & pessimism are perceived behavioral attitudes. One of the best ways to develop a positive self-image is to start early in life or early on any day. Wake up to your favorite music. Sing in the shower if you want. Have breakfast with someone important to you. Read some inspirational messages in the morning. Listen to motivational audio on the way to work.
2. Use Positive Self-Talk
Positively talk to yourself. Use sentences like, “Today is going to be a great day.” “Everything will work out.” “We will make it.” “I’m going to get this deal.” “Next time, I’ll do better.” “This is great.” Always remind yourself about the positivity around you & soak it in.
3. List Your Achievements
Think about all the things you have achieved, then write them down. Make a list of everything you have done that you are proud of and have done well. Take a look at your list when you require a reminder of your capability to get things done & to do them well.
4. Be Empathic to Others
This is the most sought-after commodity in the world. Everyone wants recognition, attention, praise, acceptance & empathy. We hackle at criticism & respond warmly to a compliment. We stay away from people who make us feel uncomfortable. If you want friends, be friendly. If you want recognition, praise others. Show some empathy towards others & you will get back the same.
5. Treat Problems as Opportunities
Make a list of your most challenging problems. Write a one-sentence description of that problem. Then rewrite the problem; this time, see it as an opportunity or exercise to challenge your creative initiative. Try to see the situation as if you were advising your near & dear ones.
6. Be With Optimists & Positive-Minded People
The best way to stay positive is to surround yourself with people with that mindset. Stay optimistic by associating with optimists. You can be realistic & optimistic simultaneously. Avoid people & situations where you become vulnerable to the negative influences of others.
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7. Eradicate Self-criticism & Bring in Self-compassion
Regrettably, when our self-image is low, we will likely damage it more by being overly self-critical. Since our goal is to improve our self-image, we need to replace self-criticism (which is about always utterly useless, even if it feels convincing) with self-compassion.
Whenever your self-critical inner monologue starts, ask yourself what you would say to a dear friend if they were in your circumstances (we tend to be much more empathetic to friends than we are to ourselves) & address those comments to yourself. Doing that will avoid damaging your self-image more with critical thoughts & help to build it up instead.
8. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
It’s hard not to do it. But when our self-image is based on how we compare to others, we will be in a permanent state of frustration. There will always be someone better, stronger, wiser & richer than we are. Build your self-image based on what you have accomplished thus far.
Compete only with yourself. Try hard to be better than you were yesterday. There is a saying, “When the grass looks greener on the other side, it is the time to work on your grass.” Focus on yourself, how you have lived your life & how you can advance the results of your actions.
9. Define Failure as Part of Growth
It’s natural to be hard on yourself after failure, but shifting your mindset to see it as growth makes all the difference. But if you can change your thinking to understand that failure is a chance to learn and that it plays an indispensable role in learning & growing, it can help you to keep perspective. Remember that failure means at least you tried instead of sitting idle.
Conclusion
Low self-image is regrettably a self-destructive process. The worse you feel about who you are & what you do, the less motivation you will have to build a positive self-image. From there, it’s easy to get trapped into a cycle of negative & circular thinking, keeping you mired in destructive & flawed beliefs.
How can you stop this vicious cycle & how can you improve self-image? There are many ways to build a self-image. Improving self-image is a journey, not a quick fix. By practicing these steps daily, you can gradually replace negativity with confidence and self-worth.
