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The holidays are a very dangerous time for self-esteem.  The last thing we need to do is measure self-worth based on gifts. There are hundreds of opportunities now to turn away from activities that involve comparing ourselves to others. You only need to look within yourself to know if you are doing the right things. Don’t allow someone else to set your priorities for you. If you hate to do outside lights, get a spotlight and devote yourself to visiting the animal shelter if that’s what you want. It’s better to have a happy house than a tension-filled one that wears 10,000 lights. This season, more than all the others, should encourage you to value yourself because you are already valued…there is already a reason you’re here.

The holidays are a dangerous time for self-esteem is a post from: Terry Diebold on the Value of Self Worth

We wear our mask to work, smiling to hiding the strain of the fight we had last night with our partner. We wear a confident mask as we use our credit card, hoping it won’t be rejected. And every mask we put on makes us feel less certain of ourselves, makes us feel more and more like a fraud. Confidence and self-esteem building come when we don’t use our masks to cover our feelings. Oh, we’re not going to go into the office in the midst of wracking sobs after that argument with our partner, but neither should we feel like a failure for having an upsetting disagreement.

Improving self esteem means being realistic about who we are. Sometimes, we make mistakes, say the wrong things. That doesn’t make us bad people. Low self-esteem demons begin to help us beat ourselves up and say we’re too broken to ever be fixed. These feelings begin to diminish when we take responsibility and try again.  Improving self-esteem means looking at what happened and how we got there and becoming aware of what we have to do to avoid the situation again.

Self-esteem building comes when we don’t use masks to cover feelings is a post from: Terry Diebold on the Value of Self Worth

Happiness and contentment are two sides of the same coin but contentment is seldom mentioned. Not everyone is going to be famous or rich. Are you happy with your life as it is? Especially if you are in process — like going back to school or learning to do carpentry or taking on an extra duty at work or at your place of worship. As you are living your life, right now, are you content? That is the real question.

Are you content? is a post from: Terry Diebold on the Value of Self Worth

Dewey

The past week I have been recovering from knee replacement surgery. It has been a humbling process. I have been dependent on other people…nurses, aides and especially my husband, to do very basic things for me. Most women I know feel uncomfortable when they are waited on because we are used to being the ones who do things for others. These weeks of recovery, I am reminding myself that I have taken care of others for years and that I can receive from others without feeling guilty. But even if I hadn’t cared for a single other person, I still deserve help because I am a person who needs it.

My dog, Dewey, has even understood I need extra care because he has been spending all of his sleeping time on my lap, giving me extra licks to keep me ahead of the pain. There is much to be grateful for and happy about, even when something is throbbing. I love my life even when I’m in pain…and I urge you to find all you can to love about your life too.

I love my life even when I’m in pain… is a post from: Terry Diebold on the Value of Self Worth

How do you get your emotional “place” back on track? is a post from: Terry Diebold on the Value of Self Worth

Your emotional “place” is where you feel grounded is a post from: Terry Diebold on the Value of Self Worth

How do you start unleashing your creativity? is a post from: Terry Diebold on the Value of Self Worth