Do "I" make me look Fat?

Poor self-esteem is an issue that we, as humans deal with everyday of our lives. Some of us struggle more (of course) and some that seem to be totally in love with themselves...are secretly overcompensating for their insecurities. I think that its quite possible that everyone has a flaw that they focus on that will never measure up to other people's standards.

There are 3 types of low self-esteem victims:


The Impostor: acts happy and successful, but is really terrified of failure. Lives with the constant fear that she or he will be "found out." Needs continuous successes to maintain the mask of positive self-esteem, which may lead to problems with perfectionism, procrastination, competition, and burn-out.

The Rebel: acts like the opinions or good will of others - especially people who are important or powerful - don't matter. Lives with constant anger about not feeling "good enough." Continuously needs to prove that others' judgments and criticisms don't hurt, which may lead to problems like blaming others excessively, breaking rules or laws, or fighting authority.

The Loser: acts helpless and unable to cope with the world and waits for someone to come to the rescue. Uses self-pity or indifference as a shield against fear of taking responsibility for changing his or her life. Looks constantly to others for guidance, which can lead to such problems as lacking assertiveness skills, under-achievement, and excessive reliance on others in relationships.


Here are some tips on how to combat low self esteem:

• Ask friends to tell you what they like about you or think you do well.
• Ask someone who cares about you to just listen to you "vent" for a little while without trying to "fix" things.
• Ask for a hug.
• Ask someone who loves you to remind you that they do.

• Talk to a Therapist or Counselor Sometimes low self-esteem can feel so painful or difficult to overcome that the professional help of a therapist or counselor is needed.
  Talking to a counselor is a good way to learn more about your self-esteem issues and begin to improve your self-esteem.

Still Curious??? Go to http://www.utexas.edu/student/cmhc/booklets/selfesteem/selfest.html#anchor967912