Core Self-Esteem: No Need to Travel to Oz, It Was There All Along!

Self-Esteem is essential to a productive, conscious life, as far as I am concerned.  The key to developing true self-esteem though is to look within.  If you don’t look within, you will surely look ‘without’, meaning to the external world. 

As long as you are looking for validation ‘out there’, you are in trouble!  As I look at the media images, which are now so fake due to digital photography, I can’t help but wonder how much of people’s insecurities, especially teens, are influenced by these often false perceptions. 

Models that are often so touched up on their photos that they are barely recognized on the street, for example set the standards of beauty.  I have literally experienced this situation with a particular model that is well known. 

Then there is the problem of waiting for others to approve of what we are doing or to validate the feasibility of our goals.  If the person asked considers your goal ‘big’, don’t hold your breath. 

People will only project onto you what they believe is possible for themselves and unfortunately, most people have so many limiting beliefs that almost anything outside of the norm looks impossible. 

One of my favorite movies was, and still is, the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy wasn’t satisfied with her life and went looking for someone or something outside of herself to find happiness. She only found the illusion and the manipulation of the wizard. 

While changing your environment can be helpful at times to support your journey, don’t expect it to ‘make you happy’.  Happiness and self-esteem is truly an inside job. 

When I say inside, I am referring to getting in touch with your Spiritual Self.  It was not until I stopped listening to all of the outside voices that vied for my mind and telling me what to think and what was best for me, that I began the journey of personal empowerment. 

No one knows better than you what is best for you.  As I came to understand the Wisdom within, I began to discover and experience the power within. 

As you stop listening to the distractions of the world and the voice of the wounded ego, you will realize that there is ‘no place like home’ when it comes to self-esteem, because the empowerment and potential for true happiness was there all along.

Comments

[Zoltan]

Great article. It is so true to be clear with yourself to make some changes. You have to make decision and to find the strength for doing it you have to look inside.

[Valencia Ray]

Thanks for your comments. You have a very informative site as well.