Everyone needs a healthy dose of self-esteem.
Go ahead…inject yourself!
No one else is going to give it to you. It has to come from within.
I know several people who either suffer from low self-esteem, or who seem to take issue with those of us who have what I would consider a healthy level of self-esteem. I have never quite understood this. I think it’s really more about having self-confidence and knowing who you are, and being comfortable in your own skin. How can that be a bad thing?
Admittedly, I was a late bloomer in so many aspects of my life, including my career. There were many failures and false starts and misdirections and missteps that it’s a wonder sometimes how or why I even kept going. I was determined that it was all part of the journey.
The lessons learned have been invaluable, and many of the important relationships that I have today were a product of a few unlikely and unexpected, crossed paths.
In many ways I would describe myself as an introverted extrovert. And the thought of putting myself out there scared the crap out of me. What if other people didn’t like it, or thought I was stupid, or irrelevant or worse? It was the rejection element that kept me from reaching further, even when I wanted to the most.
BUT, then, it always comes back to that notion that I am so fond of: “feel the fear and do it anyway.” And so I did!
Today, I do put a lot of myself out there on almost a daily basis. Sure, I share my published articles and highlight my accomplishments, and blah, blah, blah. It’s true, I absolutely talk about all the cool things that I am doing, or at least the things that I think are cool. BUT, if you are paying attention, you will see that I also put my faults out there for all the world to see, and I give everyone an equal opportunity to laugh at them and laugh at me. And, I am OK with that. In fact, I encourage it.
I have been accused of having a healthy ego and a high sense of self, or whatever you want to call it. And, guess what? The truth is, I don’t really care, and you shouldn’t either!
Forget the naysayers. Forget the negative voices in your head. Let go of fear. Have the confidence to celebrate yourself. You have worked hard, and you deserve this. Stand up and yell it from the rooftops, but do it quietly so that people don’t think you’re nuts!
Do it for you.
Know who you are and what you stand for. Be true to yourself. Don’t be afraid of what other people say or might say. Remove the filter and speak your mind.
Accomplishments and success should be shared, not quietly stowed away where no one else will find them. Put them out there. Put yourself out there. And care just a little less about what you think people might think about you. Believe in yourself and I truly believe that others will follow.