|
Journey Well, LLC
Self-esteem is a well-known concept. It relates to our perception of our personality, our appearance, our abilities, and our worth. Many factors can contribute to the development of healthy self-esteem and many factors can inhibit that development. The incredible thing is that self-esteem is not a static quality; it is a dynamic quality that can change through our experiences, our beliefs, and our self-talk. We have the power to make these changes! If we have low self-esteem, it may be difficult to truly buy into the idea that we can make those changes. But if we can at least recognize that the potential for change is there, we are on our way to feeling more empowered. And that is a wonderful first step toward developing healthier self-esteem, a more realistic self-image, and increasing confidence in who we are as unique individuals!
|
A concept that might be less known is self-compassion. Compassion is generally defined as, "a feeling of deep sympathy or sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering". Having compassion for others is a desirable trait, as it demonstrates our ability to feel empathy for others and our willingness to help or support those in need. Is having compassion for oneself any less desirable? What beliefs or experiences might lead one to experience more compassion for others than for oneself? Developing self-compassion is an important part of building healthy self-esteem because in order for us to accept and feel good about our personality, our appearance, our abilities, and our worth, we need to demonstrate empathy for ourselves and the experiences we have had along the way. This is not arrogance. This is not putting oneself above anyone else. This is acknowledging that we deserve the same empathy, care, and compassion that we so willingly give to others. If you cringe a little (or a lot) as you read this, that might indicate that you are not comfortable with these ideas or might not believe that you deserve to see yourself in this new way. Exploring the beliefs and perceptions related to your reaction may help you gain a better understanding of why you see yourself in a certain way and whether that is the healthiest ... most compassionate ... way you could view yourself.
|
Our approach to developing healthy self-esteem and self-compassion is based on a Person-Centered foundation combined with cognitive-behavioral and expressive interventions that help you identify factors impacting your self-esteem, more fully recognize your strengths and worth, and gain a deeper sense of compassion for yourself.
|
If you believe this could benefit you and/or your child / teen,
please contact us at 513-445-9959 or via our contact form.
please contact us at 513-445-9959 or via our contact form.
|
|
|
