Why Forgiveness Is Power

August 16, 2014 by Power of Positivity

“To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” ~Robert Muller

Do you consider yourself to be a forgiving or resentful person? If somebody has hurt you in the past or did something to make you suffer, would you hold on to those past events, thoughts and feelings, or would you just let them go?

I always say that where there is anger, hate, revenge, bitterness, there is also a lot of pain underneath, and I really believe that to be true. A person who is blissful and content with herself and the world around, no matter how many mean people she will encounter and no matter how much pain those people may cause her to feel, she will always respond with love, kindness and compassion instead of anger, hate and resentment. Loving people know that an eye for an eye would only leave the whole world blind, like Gandhi said it, and they choose to do no harm to the world around them.

“If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives: Be kind anyway. If you are successful you will win some false friends and true enemies: Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank people will try to cheat you: Be honest anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight: Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous of you: Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten by tomorrow: Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough: Give your best anyway.” ~Mother Teresa

I know it’s a lot easier to give back exactly what you receive, and in this case, a lot of negativity, but we don’t want to do what’s easier, but rather what is best for our health, our well being and that of those around us. I know that people can be really mean sometimes, and that they can do horrible things to those they come in contact with, to those they love and care about, but I also believe that people can change, and this is why it’s so important to give up on your personal history that you might have had with those people, and allow them to show you just that.

If you keep an inner record of what this/that person did to you, and what they said to you, and how they made you feel, how much pain they may have caused you, etc. , every time you will come into contact with them, you will be reminded of all those things, and you will never be able to forgive and forget, nor to allow them to show you how sorry they are for what happened. No matter if they did all of those things on purpose or not, by holding on to grudge, anger or whatever it is that you are holding on to, you will bring even more pain upon your shoulders.

Just think about it. How is it possible to affect them with your hate, or whatever feelings you have towards them? You sit at home, ruminating about all the times they have mistreated you; and all the times they have hurt you; and all the many horrible things they did to you; making all kind of scenarios in your head about the things you want to tell them, and about the many ways you could get even… You spend most of your time doing just that, when the people you hate so much are probably having the time of their lives, not being affected by your feelings at all. It just doesn’t make any sense. Your ego might tell you that it does, but deep down in your heart you know that what you are doing is pretty crazy and disturbing.

I guess it’s time for you to stop, don’t you think? Forgive and forget, not for them, but for your own sake. Why spend your time thinking about something that would only attract more anger and drain you of your emotional, physical, and mental energy, ignoring all the beauty that is present in and all around you…? What’s done is done. Let it go. Detach yourself from it.

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of the many mistakes people make in this case, I would say, is that they choose to hold on to something that is not healthy for them, just because they aren’t willing to let go of some past resentments. Why won’t you let go of something that is causing you so much pain?

“Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.” ~Buddha

Here’s what I would like you to do: take a sheet of paper and a pen, and write down a couple of questions, questions that are meant to help you see things differently, and help you let go of your own misery. After you write each question, try giving an honest answer to each and every one of them:

Who is the person that mistreated you? Is it your mother, your father, your spouse, is it your child, your best friend, your neighbor your dog, your cat? Who is it?

Do you think they did what they did just to hurt you? Do you think they did it on purpose?

Do you think it’s possible for you to forgive them, and I mean, really forgive them?

Do you think it’s possible for you to forget everything and go back to how things were before?

Would you rather hold on to your anger than go back to being friends? Can you even remember how good it felt to be in their presence, to spend time with them?

Would you say that they are sorry for what they did?

Are you willing to give up on the relationship you had with this person because of what he/she did to you?

Is it worth being upset? Is your ego really that big?

What does your mind tell you to do?

What is your heart telling you to do?

To whom are you going to listen? Your heart, or your mind?

And then make a decision. You either choose to continue being friends with that person or not. Whatever your decision will be, you will eventually have to let go in order to be happy!

Let go of that friendship, let go of the relationship you had with this person, let go of those past resentments, let go of the hate… let go of that person you once loved. You will have to chose, and no matter what your choice would be, you will eventually free yourself.

And here’s another tip for you. If you choose with your mind, who is so critical and judgmental, and most of the time telling you all kind of crazy things that would only attract even more anger and resentment upon you, you would probably have many regrets afterwards. On the other hand, if you choose with your heart, who is constantly trying to help you see that letting go of all that negativity, would not only bring you freedom but will also help you rediscover the inner peace and happiness. It doesn’t have to be as complicated as your mind is trying to convince you life should be. Simplify your life! Listen to your mind but always follow your heart.

Do you think forgiveness is an act of weakness or of strength? Is there anyone in your life you feel that you have to forgive? You can share your insights by joining the conversation in the comment section below.

With all my love,

Source: Written by Luminita Saviuc of Purpose Fairy, Guest contributor
Like this post? Then sign-up for our “Daily Dose of Inspiration” Newsletter. It’s FREE!
Over 30,000 like-minded people have already registered.

5 Inner Characteristics of a Positive Thinker

August 15, 2014 by Power of Positivity

People with a positive attitude stand out, don’t they? A positive thinker always attracts attention–without ever meaning to!

These individuals always have a “pep in their step” and a smile on their face. They make the most of their life and always seem to lift up everyone around them.

Not only do these folks possess a great attitude, radiate confidence, and achieve great success, they also enjoy other amazing benefits such as the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and a longer life expectancy.

These physical benefits are not the only thing positive people have in their favor either. Positive people have certain inner characteristics that are something to behold.

We’ve made a list of five of the most important inner characteristics a positive thinker.

5 Inner Characteristics of a Positive Thinker

Positive Thinker Characteristic #1: Resilience

One by-product of a positive disposition is a resilient nature. Simply put, by being a positive thinker, even during adversity, you become tougher and stronger. This characteristic allows you to maintain emotional stability and brings forth opportunities and solutions that appear quickly and are more effective.

As a terrific individual once said, “I purposely, consciously redefine problems as opportunities.”

If you think about it, isn’t there something to be gained out of even the toughest situations? Maybe even perhaps a stronger nature or more discipline?

If these questions resonated with you, congratulations! You have a resilient nature and are on the right path to being a positive thinker. 😉

Positive Thinker Characteristic #2: Acceptance

Most of us try hard to create accomplishments in our lives. We hope, pray, and “keep on keeping on.”

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, things can go the other way – resulting in disappointment and rejection. The concept of acceptance is so prevalent and esteemed that three of the major world religions: Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism, base their core dogmas off of it.

Acceptance allows you to learn from your mistakes and maintain perspective, rather than exaggerating or reacting dramatically. In other words, please do not beat yourself up. Just make the most of what happened, forgive yourself, and move on.

Positive Thinker Characteristic #3: Gratitude

Granted, we’ve heard it a million times. “Be thankful for what you have…”

We are all so busy with our work, families, and other obligations, that it’s easy to forget to contemplate the good (small) stuff in our lives. A roof over our heads, food on the table, a warm embrace, a paycheck, air in our lungs… these are all things to be thankful for.

Positive thinkers consciously take time each day and feel grateful for these things. Gratitude is a practice and something that needs to be cultivated and encouraged every single day. It’s not a once in a while type of thing or something you do when everything is going well. It’s a daily practice, no matter what is going on, that in time can flow very naturally to the point where you are living a life of pure gratitude and bliss.

This is in fact probably the cornerstone characteristic of a positive thinker. If we’re mindful (and honest) we can think of many things to be truly grateful for every day.

Positive Thinker Characteristic #4: Consciousness

Sometimes, it can feel as if our lives are on autopilot. Our brains are elaborate, magnificent, marvelous creations. The world’s greatest supercomputer cannot compete with the processing power of the human brain. That being said, the human brain is can easily become diluted.

The world’s most sought after psychologists and authors on topics of spiritual growth, mind power and self-improvement all base their teachings on the practice of conscious thought. What we put into our minds and program into our conscience has far-reaching effects on the kinds of lives that we live – from getting a job to maintaining a diet or exercise regimen, what we believe, we achieve.

Positive thinkers innately know this consciousness stuff. The exciting thing is that even if we are not pre-programmed to think this way; through mindfulness, prayer (meditation, etc.)), and reflection, we can attain a higher consciousness and experience a better life for ourselves.

Positive Thinker Characteristic #5: Integrity

Telling the truth is a very noble trait, but it’s more than that… integrity is about being honorable, moral, righteous and straightforward.

As human beings, we are not born with an inclination toward lying and deceptiveness. Rather, we are conditioned to think that it’s acceptable behavior. Usually, even if we aren’t conscious of it, we adopt that behavior as a way to achieve “love” and “acceptance”. Through the pressures and tribulations of this world, we sometimes feel that we can potentially benefit by telling a lie – from a “little white lie” to a gross exaggeration.

Either way, our acts (even the little ones) matter and they can and will affect us and others around us. Truth and righteousness always prevail – sometimes not always in the way we expect. Call it the cycle of Karma if you will, but either way, living a life of integrity will create a wonderful ripple effect in your life.

If you need proof, please study the most influential figures in our history. From divine figures such as Jesus and Buddha to everyday heroes like Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa, these individuals exemplified the power of integrity, despite the consequences – some of which were grave.

Integrity is a powerful characteristic of a positive thinker. The two go hand in hand just as are lying and negativity. You cannot have one without the other.

As with all of the other positive inner traits, integrity is something that truly positive people innately understand and live by; and something we can all adopt into our life.

Final Thoughts

All in all, never judge yourself if you fall short with this list. We are all human beings and we make mistakes. The important part is to learn from them and continually strive to improve daily.

Seek to understand your shortcomings and make a conscious decision to improve in one area at a time, and then another. Focusing on one area strongly will bring forth your desired outcome.

When we consciously strive to improve and mold ourselves with the power of positivity we can surely expect to have a better quality of life and become a true positive thinker.

Here’s How Being Thankful Improves Your Health

August 7, 2014 by Power of Positivity

“It is not happy people who are thankful; it is thankful people who are happy.”

On Thanksgiving, people around the United States expressed gratitude for the bounty of their lives. However, many may not realize that in doing so, they are also improving the quality of their health. Moreover, they are increasing their life expectancies.

The scientific evidence is conclusive when it comes to mood, outlook, and health. Happy people live 7-10 years longer than unhappy people. Additionally, optimistic people have a 77% lower risk of heart disease than pessimistic people. But how can you become happier and more optimistic in your world view?

The How Of Happiness

In Sonja Lyubomirsky’s The How Of Happiness, the author teaches us how 50% of our propensity for happiness is based on a genetic set point, something we can’t influence very much, 10% is based on life circumstances (such as getting the promotion, finding The One, or achieving the creative dream), and 40% is “intentional activity” that we can influence with our behavior.

That means we can be up to 40% happier in our lives without changing our circumstances one bit, and one of the key intentional activities is the practice of gratitude.

Research shows that consistently grateful people are happier, more energetic, more hopeful, more helpful, more empathic, more spiritual, more forgiving, and less materialistic. They’re also less likely to be depressed, anxious, lonely, envious, neurotic, or sick.

The Evidence

In one study, one group of participants were asked to name five things they’re grateful for every day. Another group was asked to list five hassles. Those expressing gratitude were not only happier and more optimistic, but they also reported fewer physical symptoms. They less frequently struggled with issues like headache, cough, nausea, or acne. Other gratitude studies have shown that those with chronic illnesses demonstrate clinical improvement when practicing regular gratitude.

Severely depressed people instructed to list grateful thoughts on a website daily were found to be significantly less depressed by the end of the study when compared to depressed people who weren’t asked to express gratitude. And we know that depression is a significant risk factor for disease.

For more surprising scientific proof about how to be ultimately healthy, read Mind Over Medicine or watch my public television special Heal Yourself: Mind Over Medicine (check listings here). (Hint: Being generous and radical self care are good for your health, so try giving generously of your time and love this holiday season while also focusing on your own self care!)

How Does Gratitude Boost Happiness?

According to Dr. Lyubomirsky, gratitude:

Promotes savoring of positive life experiences
Bolsters self-worth and self-esteem
Helps people cope with stress and trauma
Encourages caring acts and moral behavior
Helps build social bonds, strengthen existing relationships, and nurture new relationships (and we know lonely people have twice the rate of heart disease as those with strong social connections)
Inhibits harmful comparisons
Diminishes or deters negative feelings such as anger, bitterness, and greed
Thwarts hedonistic adaptation (the ability to adjust your set point to positive new circumstances so that we don’t appreciate the new circumstance and it has little affect on our overall health or happiness)

How To Practice Gratitude

You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy the benefits to your health and happiness that accompany gratitude.

Keep a gratitude journal.
Ponder 3-5 things you’re currently grateful for (it’s okay if these are mundane things!) and write them down. Data suggests that doing this once per week may be most beneficial, but if you find that doing it daily works best for you, go for it!

Cultivate An Attitude of Gratitude.
Journaling may not be your cup of tea, so you might be better off just training yourself to think grateful thoughts. Try noticing one ungrateful thought you have each day and switching it around to something you can be grateful for.

Vary Your Gratitude Practice.
Try journaling sometimes, thinking grateful thoughts, speaking what you’re grateful for at dinner time, making art about what you’re grateful for, but shake it up! We tend to get bored easily, so the practice of gratitude works better when we change how we’re grateful.

Express Gratitude Directly To Others.
Call a friend, write a letter, share your grateful thoughts with family members, or speak to a colleague at work about what you’re grateful for.

What Are You Thankful For?

Share your gratitude here in the comments. And thank you for caring what I write about. I’m super grateful for you!

With gratitude,

By Lissa Rankin MD , Source: Wake Up World

5 Things Happy Families Do Differently

August 6, 2014 by Power of Positivity

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox

Gone are the classic family days of The Cleavers and The Brady’s.

But, just because your kids can’t watch and observe the ideal family, doesn’t mean they can’t work toward being one. Be the change you wish to see. That means be conscious of how you are living and raising your children.

Happy families do things a little differently. They are happier because they live intentionally and practice positive habits that instill lifelong values into their children. It doesn’t mean everything is perfect, but their habits make the difference and the good outweighs the bad.

Of course, not every family can be happy all the time, but with a few little hints to help you along the way you CAN be most of the time.

Here are 5 things happy families do differently:

Tips that you can use to create a happy family too (starting today)!

1. Happy families have family traditions.

The word busy seems to be the new most overused word these days. Everyone is so busy with tasks and activities that families are lucky to spend a few hours per week together.

So, now more than ever, it’s important to set aside time for the whole family just to be together doing things consistently every week, every month, and on holidays to create life long memories and family traditions.

For example, it can be as easy and simple as family breakfast on Sunday mornings, game night on Friday nights, an outdoor hike on the weekend, visiting family out of town once a month, decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, baking a family recipe – the list goes on.

2. Happy families are giving.

As the song goes, “We all need somebody to lean on“.

There’s nothing better than giving back to those in need. You may have been in need at some time, and someone has helped you. In the same respect, you never know when you might be in need (so it’s good to store up some of that instant positive karma). It’s important to give often and allow your children to personally give as well.

Giving back as a family only amplifies the positive gesture. It unites the family while also teaching children about doing good deeds for others and sharing. There are so many different things you can do too – like:

Participate in a walk/jog/run that benefits a special charity or a group affected by a certain disease or disability. (Feel free to select your own preference)
Volunteer to plant flowers
Participate in a food drive.
Give away things around the house that you no longer need or use.
Donating clothes that are too small or not worn.

3. Happy families practice peace, kindness, and compassion.

Yes, it’s true. Siblings argue sometimes, and that’s about as normal as it gets. However, huge explosions can be prevented when you practice peace internally. Intentionally use kindness and compassion in situations that would normally create anger or upset.

Declare and make a family rule that only positive, kind words are allowed to be spoken to each other. When feelings of anger arise, teach your children how to take deep belly breaths to diffuse the negative emotion.

The best way to teach these habits is to practice them yourself.

4. Happy families are spiritual or religious.

Consistently teaching your children about life and our Creator will set them up for so much success and happiness in their life. No doubt there is a driving force in this Universe that creates and flows through everything. Whatever you personally believe is up to you. It’s important to teach that belief to your child. Even if later down the road they decide to believe something different. Ultimately it is up to all of us as individuals on how we connect with the divine.

Teaching our children that is exists an that we can communicate with that power is what creates well being in a person. Well being creates a happier and healthier family and life. To do this effectively you can simply personally practice your religion or spiritual beliefs daily and lead by example – teaching your children the details along the way.

5. Happy families are happy more and worry less.

So many families tend to miss out on the simple joys of life because they just have “too many” other things they decide to worry about. Happy families don’t stress and strain, they plan and act.

When a less than desirable situation arises they deal with it quickly and calmly. They don’t let little things turn into big things and they feel gratitude for the beauty and love in their life.

Happy households might still be “busy” with school, work, hobbies, and extra activities, but they make the most of life because they created it. Happy families diffuse problems quickly. When a big problem arises, they effectively handle it and communicate their emotions. They may share concerns in a more peaceful way to help the whole family co-exist more easily.

“I sustain myself with the love of family.” – Maya Angelou

Your turn:

Are you practicing any of these tips? Do you have one to add?

We’d love to hear about how YOU are creating a happy family!

10 Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem

August 6, 2014 by Power of Positivity

Read this if you’re down on yourself, feeling lonely, depressed, or ready to give up on your dreams! You’ll love the boost to your self-esteem!

It’s time to boost your self-esteem and realize that YOU are a beautiful, unique, talented creation of life and belong in a life filled with love for yourself and those around you.

Here are ten ways to boost your self-esteem right now:

Try these things to take good care of yourself.

“Look for something that makes your day every day, and soon enough, every day will be filled with things that make your day.” – Kristen Butler

1. Compliment yourself.

The love you send into the world has to come from somewhere, right? It comes from within you, and you’ve GOT to practice the self-love you deserve. This is especially important when you’re giving your love to others. One great way to provide yourself with love is through a practice called “mirror work,” taught in depth by Louise Hay. Walk right up to the mirror, and compliment yourself – it’s as simple as that. It could be anything from “Your hair looks great today” to “I love the authentic, beautiful, unique person you are!”

2. Stop comparing yourself to others.

“I cannot say this too strongly: Do not compare yourselves to others. Be true to who you are, and continue to learn with all your might.” – Daisaku Ikeda

Your self-esteem is your unique piece of the Universe. Our world is one big jigsaw puzzle full of details that fit together in many ways, but you are only one piece and must play your unique part. When you compare yourself to others, you undervalue who you truly are. Realize your true self-worth. It may even help improve your net worth!

3. Smile more often every day.

Smiling is essential to happiness and improved self-esteem. Studies show that smiling more (even if forced) can genuinely decrease stress and have many other benefits. Not only will your mood rise, but you’ll also do the same for others; remember, as we empower ourselves and smile more, we shine a light for others to follow. They will also permit themselves to smile more.

Even if for no other reason than you are still here, smile!

4. Be gentle to yourself.

Be gentle with yourself – you can’t change where you are right now. You can only change your perspective on it to shift yourself into a different and hopefully more favorable place in the future. Also, remember to be kind to others – what you say to others, you say to yourself. Go into every situation to improve others’ day through kindness and compassion, and you’ll see that the energy is returned exponentially.

5. Focus on how far you’ve come, not how far you have to go.

No known force in this world can move an entire mountain without breaking it down into pieces first. Nonetheless, it’s the pieces that you’ve transferred that remind you how far you’ve come. The finish line will always be there, waiting for you to cross it, take a deep breath, and keep going.

6. Reach out and get support.

Having positive relationships with open communication channels is healthy and needed for positive progress. Whether through your local community, family, friends, online, etc., a strong network will hold you accountable for your health & well-being. It will provide you with genuine and caring people you can count on if life takes a negative shift. (Don’t forget about the incredible Power of Positivity community that will shine for you every day! )

7. Look for unique things that make your day.

Acknowledge the things that make your day, whether that’s thanking someone verbally or thanking God. Allow gratitude for the positive in your life to fill your spirit and nourish your body with energy and love.

8. Eat healthy and organic whole foods.

Eating healthy foods has multiple benefits, including better health, better moods, and a happier digestive system that will thank you for eating this way. You’ll even be seeing more favorable numbers on the scale! So get that special dinner outfit out of the closet and hang it on the wall for motivation – you’re on your way!

9. Stay active every day.

Much like the laws of inertia work, activity is required to stay on top of your game. Physical, mental, and even spiritual activity all count – for flowing water is filled with vibrancy and life while stagnant water is the opposite. You can exercise, do yoga, use apps for self-development, meditate, or even just read a few chapters of your favorite book to stay active.

10. Do what makes you happy and follow your passion.

Life loves when we are passionate because we’re in our happiest and most creative state. Passion with the right action leads to creation that exceeds our expectations. When we follow our passion, and it truly feels right in our heart and mind, we can always be assured we’re on the right path. It’s not always perfect or easy, but it is worth it.

7 Signs of Low Self-Esteem

1. Avoiding Problems in Life

If you have low self-esteem, you may think you cannot handle life’s problems. Dealing with daily stresses can seem overwhelming, so escapism becomes more appealing. While some people who avoid difficulties in life aren’t suffering from low self-esteem, it can present itself in this manner.

Rather than facing your fears, you’d rather shirk responsibilities and stay in your comfort zone. This certainly makes for a more relaxing, easygoing lifestyle, but it won’t help you grow.

2. Withdrawing from Friends and Family

Another common sign that someone has low self-esteem is social isolation or withdrawal. If you have a negative view of yourself, it bleeds over into every facet of your life. You may not think you’re worthy of any relationships, and isolate yourself from others to avoid rejection. Those with low self-esteem often have few friendships and aren’t close with family members.

3. Under or Overachievement

It may seem counterintuitive that overachievement could signal underlying self-esteem issues. After all, many people identify themselves by their financial status or accomplishments in our modern world that stresses productivity over all else. However, working yourself to death could point to deep insecurity, as you must prove your worth to feel accepted.

Unfortunately, it never feels like enough, no matter how much work you do. That’s because the root issue of low self-esteem hasn’t been brought to the surface. Until you deal with your feelings of unworthiness, you’ll never feel satisfied despite your many achievements and abilities.

On the other hand, some people choose to cope with low self-esteem by doing as little. They don’t believe they can achieve much in life, so they do the bare minimum instead. Those with a negative self-image may not even think they’re worthy of better opportunities in life. So, they become stagnant and indifferent about their station in life.

4. Indecisiveness

Low self-esteem may manifest as a difficulty in making life decisions. Since insecure people don’t usually trust their instincts or intuition, they don’t feel comfortable making choices. They may pass this responsibility to others they deem more adequate or competent. They can avoid taking the blame if something goes wrong, lifting a massive weight off their shoulders.

Being indecisive could stem from early life trauma, perhaps because their parents criticized them too harshly. As such, they learned to become passive as a survival instinct. They’d instead not make any decision than make the wrong one and get yelled at.

5. Anxiety, Depression, or Other Mental Health Problems

Sadly, many people with low self-esteem also suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. Studies have found a link between an unstable self-concept and maladaptive behaviors such as violence, aggression, hopelessness, and substance abuse. There’s also a strong association between poor self-image and eating disorders, manic episodes, and personality disorders.

Self-esteem helps buffer stress and mental health problems by promoting resilience and positive coping skills. Usually, low self-esteem results from frequent adverse experiences during childhood and bullying from peers. Studies show that we inherit self-esteem from our parents, but environmental factors also play a role.

6. Procrastination

Believe it or not, your procrastinating habit could stem from low self-esteem. Research shows that procrastination is a self-protective strategy that hides a person’s insecurity. They may use this excuse to justify underachieving and adverse outcomes at work or school. You may procrastinate to avoid making decisions that could spark criticism from others. Or, the behavior may stem from poor time management and motivation, both of which have been linked to low self-esteem.

7. People-Pleasing Behaviors

Those with low self-esteem generally have a hard time saying ‘no’ to others. They may fear rejection or criticism from people and don’t want to disappoint them. For instance, they may always accept new projects from their boss even if they miss other essential engagements in life. Children’s birthdays or family vacations may take a backseat to please their boss because they don’t want to seem weak or uninterested in their work.

Or, the people-pleaser may act overly generous, buying extravagant gifts for others to gain their acceptance. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make others happy, but it could signal an underlying problem if you do it to boost your self-esteem.

What Causes Low Self-Esteem?

1. Childhood abuse or neglect

Your parents play a huge role in your mental, emotional and physical well-being. As caregivers, they are responsible for shaping you into a healthy, productive member of society. Children need a warm, safe, and loving environment for stable development. If they’re raised in a chaotic, stressful home, it can lead to low self-esteem and other mental problems.

2. Bullying at school

The way your peers interact with you influences your mental health as well. If you have mostly negative experiences with kids at school, you may feel like an outcast. As humans, we naturally want to belong in a group, but it can lead to social withdrawal and poor self-esteem when others exclude us. Many studies have found an association between being bullied and poor self-concept.

3. Long-term stress due to negative experiences

Life circumstances such as losing jobs, getting a divorce, or dealing with financial difficulties can cause low self-esteem. Of course, everyone deals with a loss at some point in life, but it could affect how you see yourself if it’s a frequent occurrence.

4. Medical or mental health conditions

Finally, having a medical condition could negatively impact your self-image. You may feel like a burden or unworthy of other people’s attention because of your situation. If you have a chronic disease, you may also feel limited in what you can accomplish, leading to a negative self-concept.

Final Thoughts on Reversing Low Self-Esteem

No one wants to perceive themselves in a negative light, but unfortunately, many of us struggle with loving ourselves. As a result of early life trauma, bullying, and other experiences, we may have a fragmented idea of who and what we are. Thankfully, it’s possible to repair a broken image of ourselves by practicing self-care, thinking positively, and focusing on our strengths rather than perceived weaknesses.

Remember, you’re a part of this cosmic play and deserve to be here just like everyone else. So, don’t be afraid to shine!

3 Tips for Living a Spirited Life

August 5, 2014 by Chris Butler

We all desire to live spirited lives that we’ll energetically recall for years to come. These 3 tips for living a life full of high spirits will surely help you lay a foundation for lasting happiness.

3 Tips for Living a Spirited Life

Do what makes you happy

Happiness results from following your intuition to ultimately fulfill a need for love. When you make a conscious choice to do what makes you happy, you begin to see that more positive and “happifying” experiences will come into your life.

Learn to read your own feel-good meter and do what makes you happy. You can find happiness in all corners of life, whether it’s through meditation to be happier, eating healthy foods for happiness, or even just finding your favorite happiness quotes!

Be with who makes you smile

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn

If the quote above is true, wouldn’t you want to be with people who make you smile more? Be around those that uplift your spirit, tell good jokes, and are easy to talk to. This kind of company is going to keep you excited about new adventures, make you enjoy your everyday life, and even pick you up when you need it most.

If you’re around people who are always being negative, you don’t have to absorb these negative emotions (click here to read how). You can be your own sunshine among the clouds!

Love as long as you live

Love is the foundation. And, after all, love is what we all seek. Any act, no matter how extreme, is really just a cry for love – although sometimes people feel the need to do something hurtful to acquire that love.

Show your friends that you have love to share with them. Also show your children that you have a positive, selfless love to surround them with. Show your family that love is unconditional. And most of all, show yourself the love you need to be able to give it to others.

Actionable Affirmation to live a spirited life:

Happiness encompasses my spirit and projects outward. I love and am loved in return!

The Community

Our Free Community of Positively Powerful SuperFans

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

Why Forgiveness Is Power

5 Inner Characteristics of a Positive Thinker

Positive Thinker Characteristic #1: Resilience

Positive Thinker Characteristic #2: Acceptance

Positive Thinker Characteristic #3: Gratitude

Positive Thinker Characteristic #4: Consciousness

Positive Thinker Characteristic #5: Integrity

Final Thoughts

The How Of Happiness

The Evidence

How Does Gratitude Boost Happiness?

How To Practice Gratitude

What Are You Thankful For?

Here are 5 things happy families do differently:

1. Happy families have family traditions.

2. Happy families are giving.

3. Happy families practice peace, kindness, and compassion.

4. Happy families are spiritual or religious.

5. Happy families are happy more and worry less.

Your turn:

Here are ten ways to boost your self-esteem right now:

1. Compliment yourself.

2. Stop comparing yourself to others.

3. Smile more often every day.

4. Be gentle to yourself.

5. Focus on how far you’ve come, not how far you have to go.

6. Reach out and get support.

7. Look for unique things that make your day.

8. Eat healthy and organic whole foods.

9. Stay active every day.

10. Do what makes you happy and follow your passion.

7 Signs of Low Self-Esteem

1. Avoiding Problems in Life

2. Withdrawing from Friends and Family

3. Under or Overachievement

4. Indecisiveness

5. Anxiety, Depression, or Other Mental Health Problems

6. Procrastination

7. People-Pleasing Behaviors

What Causes Low Self-Esteem?

1. Childhood abuse or neglect

2. Bullying at school

3. Long-term stress due to negative experiences

4. Medical or mental health conditions

Final Thoughts on Reversing Low Self-Esteem

3 Tips for Living a Spirited Life

Do what makes you happy

Be with who makes you smile

Love as long as you live

Actionable Affirmation to live a spirited life:

The Community

Our Free Community of Positively Powerful SuperFans

Rise and Shine On! Master Your Day with the Ultimate Positive Morning Guide + Checklist

Stay Connected With

Us

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!

Rise and Shine On!
Master Your Day with the Ultimate Positive Morning Guide + Checklist