Changing Your Self-Concept and Attitude
Changing your self-concept to reflect who you want to be is a lifelong process that requires insight, effort and practice. There are many factors to consider when you have decided to make changes in your life.
Have realistic expectations: Judge yourself in terms of who you are and your own stage of development. It is good to acknowledge traits or skills in others that you admire in order to help you recognize what you want to achieve, but remember each person has his or her own path of development. Recognize your own growth!
Have a Realistic Perception of Yourself: Recognize your strengths and build on what you can do. It is important to be less critical of yourself and to do your best to reject inaccurate or negative feedback from others. Seek out those who will acknowledge your strengths.
Have the Will to Change: Change takes commitment and time. Be willing to make the effort to reach the goals you set for yourself.
Have the Skill to Change: Seek advice on how to get the skills you want and observe others who model the behaviours that you would like to adapt to your own personal style.
Becoming the best you can be is a lifelong process that requires commitment and effort. Alexandra Stoddard (1991) identifies the following seven steps to self-esteem.
Accept and make the best of who you are:
- Focus on your goals without comparing yourself to others.
- Look inward for clues and answers: Do things for your own satisfaction and not for recognition from others.
- Don't be too hard on yourself: Believe in yourself and acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities you want for yourself.
- Discard the myth of perfection: Enjoy what you are doing.
- Do the things you enjoy: Identify yourself in your interests and accomplishments
- Take risks: Dare. Be brave.
- Emulate role models: Adopt some habits of people you admire.
Photo by V Cobham
