Exploring Inner Dialogue as it Relates to Self Esteem Issues in Women.
- Date: 2007-11-12 - Word Count: 976
Share This!
For some reason, at least from my perspective, it seems that self esteem issues in women are fortified more readily in this culture.
This is by no means meant to detract from the importance of these issues in men as well, but as a woman I am better equipped to discuss self esteem issues in women. So this article tends to leans towards that perspective.
Your Inner Voice: I think much of our conflicting inner dialog is lodged painfully in our own recollection of how we were valued at an impressionable age. Isn't it true that you really are your own worst critic? That implanted voice constantly criticizing, nit picking and basically nagging it's way through your day, drowning your confidence and eroding your self-esteem? It's kind of hard to believe that we would willingly create this form of self-torture, but the fact is...we do!
Why? Well,any series of happenstance or painful past events, parents, friends, history, what have you, could have caused this... I could rant endlessly against all the wrongs and causes in my life. But ultimately I had a freeing thought: not to appear unsympathetic but, does it matter? We can't change what happened, but we are here now. I have gone that route myself as I have a sob story I can and did blame everything on.I spent years ranting and raving at the injustice of my childhood circumstances all to no avail. A particularly large chip on my shoulder concerning self esteem issues in women came from the old-world cheauvenistic degradation of my environment. Finally I realized, why waste another moment of my precious life energy entertaining anything that has to do with those people? After all, it never got me anywhere but back to square one in my own mind.
I didn't realize the role I was playing until I went through the process of re-writing my own responses to my history. Now if you know my life story or have read the book, then you already know I was raised in a super cheauvenistic cult environment and have had to overcome a lot (to say the least) of negative implanted thinking and feeling, most of which led me to believe what I was told from a very early age, which is that I did not have the ability to make decisions for my own life...that is my past. "The fact of the matter is", many people say, that "you can't change it"...or can you? I'm not talking about jumping into a time machine and rewinding history, but about rewiring our experience of and therefore responses to history!
So we got hooked up a certain way, we are trained how to feel, react and interpret our world from a very young age by forces outside of our control at the time...so I say, why shouldn't we roll up our sleeves now, dive in and give ourselves an overhaul to our own specifications? After all, would you let your grand mother pick out your clothes every day for the rest of your life? Well I don't know about you, but personally...well...let's just say it wouldn't work for me! So, where do you begin? Don't you have to study a problem before you can fix it? Well that sounds obvious, but isn't it rather difficult to study your own subconscious? After all that is why they call it the "SUB Conscious." It is primarily hidden beneath the surface. Hence the age old industry of psychology, psychotherapy, counseling etc. (and I am in no way disparaging them, and would ever claim to replace them, they are a wonderful asset to the life-distressed, myself included.) this is just an approach, an addition if you will, that worked for me that I wish to share, and it may or may not be right for you.
So now what? Quite frankly "self esteem issues in women" sounds like an overwhelming issue to tackle. How do you fix a problem you cannot see? Well, frankly, you don't. Just start to ponder the idea, don't worry about that right now. The first thing you do is make the invisible...visible. "How" you might ask? This is where what I call "The Healing Author Course" Begins...who knows you better than yourself? I mean your deep subconscious self? We are led to believe that we are helpless to understand our own minds and hearts "leave that to the professionals" they say "you don't have the skills." Yet I believe we all have that vision within us. How do you access your sub conscious in it's purest form? Unfiltered, un-edited by judgments or condemnation? Have you ever heard of free form expression? Basically brainstorming your subconscious. This can be done through the process of journaling. What is the most powerful tool of expression and reinforcement? Language! The spoken and written word. You use it every day to communicate to other people in your life. Well now it is time to communicate with yourself. "That's silly!" you may say. Rest easy, I don't mean roaming the streets mumbling like a crazy person, but you do think about things all day long right? The only problem with this is that we have a constant filter in place that prevents us from seeing the raw input, once again that inner voice.
Through journaling you will be free form writing to reveal yourself to yourself. This can be a very scary process, who doesn't fear the thought of discovering something they don't like about themselves? It is not about judgment, but discovery, that is the first step. It is actually quite simple, you will set aside time alone to pour yourself out onto paper. This is for your eyes only, and it is the first step in becoming familiar with yourself. What does this accomplish? You are just exploring the environment that was created so that you can choose how to re-create it.
This is by no means meant to detract from the importance of these issues in men as well, but as a woman I am better equipped to discuss self esteem issues in women. So this article tends to leans towards that perspective.
Your Inner Voice: I think much of our conflicting inner dialog is lodged painfully in our own recollection of how we were valued at an impressionable age. Isn't it true that you really are your own worst critic? That implanted voice constantly criticizing, nit picking and basically nagging it's way through your day, drowning your confidence and eroding your self-esteem? It's kind of hard to believe that we would willingly create this form of self-torture, but the fact is...we do!
Why? Well,any series of happenstance or painful past events, parents, friends, history, what have you, could have caused this... I could rant endlessly against all the wrongs and causes in my life. But ultimately I had a freeing thought: not to appear unsympathetic but, does it matter? We can't change what happened, but we are here now. I have gone that route myself as I have a sob story I can and did blame everything on.I spent years ranting and raving at the injustice of my childhood circumstances all to no avail. A particularly large chip on my shoulder concerning self esteem issues in women came from the old-world cheauvenistic degradation of my environment. Finally I realized, why waste another moment of my precious life energy entertaining anything that has to do with those people? After all, it never got me anywhere but back to square one in my own mind.
I didn't realize the role I was playing until I went through the process of re-writing my own responses to my history. Now if you know my life story or have read the book, then you already know I was raised in a super cheauvenistic cult environment and have had to overcome a lot (to say the least) of negative implanted thinking and feeling, most of which led me to believe what I was told from a very early age, which is that I did not have the ability to make decisions for my own life...that is my past. "The fact of the matter is", many people say, that "you can't change it"...or can you? I'm not talking about jumping into a time machine and rewinding history, but about rewiring our experience of and therefore responses to history!
So we got hooked up a certain way, we are trained how to feel, react and interpret our world from a very young age by forces outside of our control at the time...so I say, why shouldn't we roll up our sleeves now, dive in and give ourselves an overhaul to our own specifications? After all, would you let your grand mother pick out your clothes every day for the rest of your life? Well I don't know about you, but personally...well...let's just say it wouldn't work for me! So, where do you begin? Don't you have to study a problem before you can fix it? Well that sounds obvious, but isn't it rather difficult to study your own subconscious? After all that is why they call it the "SUB Conscious." It is primarily hidden beneath the surface. Hence the age old industry of psychology, psychotherapy, counseling etc. (and I am in no way disparaging them, and would ever claim to replace them, they are a wonderful asset to the life-distressed, myself included.) this is just an approach, an addition if you will, that worked for me that I wish to share, and it may or may not be right for you.
So now what? Quite frankly "self esteem issues in women" sounds like an overwhelming issue to tackle. How do you fix a problem you cannot see? Well, frankly, you don't. Just start to ponder the idea, don't worry about that right now. The first thing you do is make the invisible...visible. "How" you might ask? This is where what I call "The Healing Author Course" Begins...who knows you better than yourself? I mean your deep subconscious self? We are led to believe that we are helpless to understand our own minds and hearts "leave that to the professionals" they say "you don't have the skills." Yet I believe we all have that vision within us. How do you access your sub conscious in it's purest form? Unfiltered, un-edited by judgments or condemnation? Have you ever heard of free form expression? Basically brainstorming your subconscious. This can be done through the process of journaling. What is the most powerful tool of expression and reinforcement? Language! The spoken and written word. You use it every day to communicate to other people in your life. Well now it is time to communicate with yourself. "That's silly!" you may say. Rest easy, I don't mean roaming the streets mumbling like a crazy person, but you do think about things all day long right? The only problem with this is that we have a constant filter in place that prevents us from seeing the raw input, once again that inner voice.
Through journaling you will be free form writing to reveal yourself to yourself. This can be a very scary process, who doesn't fear the thought of discovering something they don't like about themselves? It is not about judgment, but discovery, that is the first step. It is actually quite simple, you will set aside time alone to pour yourself out onto paper. This is for your eyes only, and it is the first step in becoming familiar with yourself. What does this accomplish? You are just exploring the environment that was created so that you can choose how to re-create it.
Related Tags: self improvement, personal growth, tony robbins, self esteem, womens issues
Lyca Shan is the founder of Firewalker Enterprises. A passionate author and speaker she focuses on helping others overcome their experiences of hardship and trauma by delivering the message that "Every person is born with the inner strength to rise above their individual circumstances and find happiness within themselves despite their environment." Learn how to defend your dreams using mental martial arts! Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- The Resurgence of Fred Perry Clothing
Summer might long be over and Wimbledon may be a distant memory, however the fashion is a year round - Uncovering Men's Tank Tops
I don't know a thing about you, but I'll bet that you have worn a tank top. Tank tops have also been - Make Use of Silk Scarves to Take Good Care of Your Skin
In the event you are new about silk scarves, you could never read about this particular feature of s - Just For Men Scarves - the Preference For Guys in the Vogue Domain
If you are not certain what style of present you could provide for men, maybe you can consider men s - Think Black Friday Shopping is Beyond Your Budget?
Moms who are juggling the bills and still trying to provide the perfect holiday gift to loved ones a - How to Make Conscious Shopping Choices
Many people have heard the phrase "voting with your dollars" and they understand that it means your - Silk Scarves - Unique Present Approach in Xmas Seasons
The most prevalent silk add-on is scarves, and many focus is presented on inspired designing on thes - Benefits of an Aloe Vera Shampoo
A lot of people are not aware of the specific benefits that using an aloe vera shampoo can do to the - How Effective is the Power of Your Subconscious Mind?
Most people are bombarded with this thought whenever they feel weak and wish to affect certain chang - Silk Scarf - the Record For Human Being in the Style History
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries the worldwide recognition of silk scarves developed dramatica
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Surf and Turf: the Race Track
Surf and Turf: The Race TrackOne of the favorite places for The G to hang out at, especially in Summ - Are You Looking For Cholesterol Drugs Without Side Effect?
High cholesterol level is probably one of the widely spread complication among Americans. Almost for - Friday the 13th could be a lucky day?
Friday the 13th sounds unlucky ? Traditional superstition ? And a lot of people dislike it and beli - Don't Judge A Man
Our world is full of bad tongues, fault-finders, gossipers, mockers, and insulters but do these grou - When Personalized Gifts Make a Difference
Finding the right gifts for a particular occasion is always a challenging task. Sometimes it is nic - Managing My Resistance: Learning To Flow With What Life Offers
One of the things that interests me most about conflict is the tendency to resist it and the ways in - What Are Horoscopes Based On?
If you do not know much about astrology, you may wonder what are horoscopes based on and how astrolo - 7 Dumbest Relationship Mistakes Smart People Make
We often find ourselves amid the wreckage of a love gone wrong, wringing our hands and asking, "Why - Motivation as the heart of self improvement
You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Motivation in the following paragraphs - Is Complete Abstinence from Use of Paychoactive Substances Necessary for Recovery?
Can a sober alcoholic in recovery who has no history of abuse of marijuana, use marijuana without