Monday



Beyond Your Self-Confidence List


Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself, how confident you are, how accomplished you feel. It reflects whether a person loves, accepts, and believes in who they are. For some of us, however, it can go up and down. One day you might feel really on top of everything, great about yourself, unafraid to try anything. And the next day, you're just as likely to feel completely at the bottom, unsure of yourself, afraid to say or do anything.

Building high self-esteem is a process, not something you can develop overnight. And this isn't necessarily easy. Yet, every single person has the capacity of high self-esteem. The question is, are you ready to make a commitment to increase your self-esteem?

If your answer is yes, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Stop comparing yourself with other people.

Human beings can amplify or reduce their value by contrasting themselves either positively or negatively with others. But if you play the comparison game, you'll run into too many "opponents" you can't defeat. There will always be some people who have more than you and some who have less. So stop comparing!

2. Stop the critic inside of you.

Some people have a bad habit of putting themselves down often. They say negative things to themselves like, "I'm always late. Why am I such a flake?" or "There you go again, stupid!" So get in the new habit of catching yourself saying critical things about yourself and learn to silence your inner critic. And if this is unavoidable, at least tone down the level of your criticism.

3. Forgive and forget.

Do not waste your time and energy thinking of past hurts. Your time can be wisely spent for other productive things rather than forlorn thoughts. We make mistakes, even when we're trying our best. Sometimes you just have to apologize, let it go and move on.

4. Associate with positive, supportive people.

The "real you" is a magnificent, unique being with enormous potential and capacity for experiencing love of yourself and extending love to others. So keep your interest in life at a high level by being in the company of enthusiastic people. This way, you will get infected by their positive attitude. You will view the world in its full shining glory and move around oozing with energy. In the same manner, it would be wise to stay away from negatively inclined thinkers. When you are surrounded by negative people who constantly put you and your ideas down, your self-esteem is lowered.

5. Get involved in work and activities you love.

It's hard to feel good about yourself if your days are spent in work you hate. Self-esteem flourishes when you are engaged in work and activities that you enjoy and make you feel valuable. And even if you're not in a position to make immediate changes in your career, you can still devote some of your leisure time to enjoyable hobbies or activities.

6. Be true to yourself.

Live your own life - not the life someone decided is best for you. You will never gain your own respect and you will never feel good about yourself if you aren't leading the life you want to lead. So if you're still making decisions based on getting approval from friends and relatives, you aren't being true to yourself and your self-esteem is lowered.

7. Talk affirmatively to others and yourself.

Words carry enough power that can either hurt other people or yourself. Similarly, words can generate enough power to give warmth and comfort. So be conscious of your choice of words. Choose affirmative words when speaking with someone.

8. Quit blaming yourself for mistakes in the past.

Many things in our lives are only minimally in our control, but those of us who develop low self-esteem take the full blame for the resulting negative outcomes. Instead, learn to honor your efforts and give proper credit for things that you have done well. Following a practical approach for managing your self-esteem will prevent it from becoming a problem and keep you off that rollercoaster.

9. Make a long list of your personal breakthroughs.

Think of times when you did something that you thought that never could do but managed to pull off successfully. These breakthroughs can generate an authentic source of never-ending pride in you. Read this list often. While reviewing it, close your eyes and recreate the feelings of satisfaction and joy you experienced when you first attained each success.

10. Make a list of your positive qualities.

Not everyone has your unique abilities and talents. Are you honest? Unselfish? Helpful? Creative? Be generous with yourself and write down at least 20 positive qualities. Again, it's important to review this list often. Most people dwell on their inadequacies and then wonder why their life isn't working out. Start focusing on your positive traits and you'll stand a much better chance of achieving what you wish to achieve.

Thursday



To Do List Today
for me and maybe
for you too.

1 Brownies for Breakfast:
that sweet beginning works
for me, but your sweet start
could be quiet time in the
morning, a hot shower, the
sports pages or The Today Show.
But, you need to have just your
special treat to start off your day.

2 Self-confidence inventory: your
own review of just why you can
succeed in this day and how you
are prepared to make things happen.

3 Top 5 reasons you have to be happy
about the opportunities today and how
you intend to bring success to the day.

4 Plan for bringing joy and kindness to
yourself and others because you and
the people you encounter deserve it.

5 Commitment to getting what you want
out of your day and learning to want
what you get out of life today and every day.


Keywords, passwords to lead your day:
sweet beginnings,
success, self-acceptance, self-confidence, joy,
contentment, learning to love your life just as it
is today, and making the most of your opportunities.

Saturday



Just what is "Brownies For Breakfast" all about?


Brownies for Breakfast
is about starting your days
with a sweet beginning that will promote
greater self-acceptance and self-confidence,
more joy in your days and more contentment
in life. See what surprises can be ahead for you
each and every day.


To Do List Today
for me and maybe
for you too.

1 Brownies for Breakfast:
that sweet beginning works
for me, but your sweet start
could be quiet time in the
morning, a hot shower, the
sports pages or The Today Show.
But, you need to have just your
special treat to start off your day.


There will be more on how the start to your
day affects your success, joy and contentment.


2 Self-confidence inventory: your
own review of just why you can
succeed in this day and how you
are prepared to make things happen.

Tuesday


Books to help sweeten your day,
promote success:


The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are
to Where You Want to Be (Hardcover)

by Jack Canfield, Janet Switzer

List Price: $24.95


Availability: In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

Jack Canfield, creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, reveals secrets to success with 64 timeless principles in The Success Principles. Get a successful start right now and watch a video featuring Jack Canfield and his words of wisdom on how to transform your life, how to take responsibility, and why his new book is suited for everyone.

From Publishers Weekly

When it comes to success, Canfield knows of what he speaks: he is co-creator, with Mark Victor Hansen, of the seemingly endless Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He presents 64 success principles that he claims "always work"—and draws on his own experience and that of others to illustrate them. Sixty-four principles may seem like a lot, but each receives a concise, easy-to-digest chapter that challenges readers to risk creating their lives exactly as they want them. Many of the principles are familiar—e.g., "Take 100% Responsibility for Your Life"—but Canfield has a nifty way of summarizing them ("Reject rejection"), and some are inventive: "Become an Inverse Paranoid" means see the world as out to help you instead of out to get you. He also offers specific techniques, such as positive-thinking exercises and visualizations.

A section on transformation provides even more on how to overcome self-defeating beliefs, fears and habits. Further sections offer principles on building good teams and better relationships at the office. Canfield acknowledges his predecessors in the success advice field, such as Napoleon Hill, and is also clear that while he gives information, motivation, and inspiration, readers must contribute their own hard work.

Canfield's energy and enthusiasm bounce off the page; many will flock to this inspiring (and very rich) teacher. And those starting off in business or in need of a refresher course may consider this title required reading.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sunday








Because getting what you want
out of your day quite often

relates to self-esteem and self-confidence,

I am suggesting books closely related to those topics by two of my favorite authors:

Gayle and Hugh Prather


Morning Notes by Hugh Prather


The Little Book of Letting Go by Hugh Prather

Shining Through by Hugh Prather

Spiritual Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather

How to Live in the World and Still Be Happy by Hugh Prather

I Will Never Leave You by Gayle and Hugh Prather

Spiritual Parenting by Gayle and Hugh Prather

Notes to Myself by Hugh Prather

Wednesday




Self-worth and things that
sometimes get in the way


Many of us harbor feelings of fear, guilt, and shame. We see ourselves as flawed and are plagued by critical and contemptuous inner voices. When we allow these voices to determine what we do, we experience deep emotional—and even physical—pain. Our lives become driven by the need to avoid this pain "at all costs,"—which translates into acting out through compulsive behaviors, thereby increasing our shame and guilt.

This cycle of fear, guilt, and shame robs us of our natural enthusiasm for life and its adventures. We no longer set goals that call us forth into greater experiences of ourselves.

We experience less and less satisfaction and therefore diminish our capacity for cheerfulness. We stop living and begin dying.

Today I make a commitment to embrace life with enthusiasm.