Do not compromise yourself as you are all you have. A seemingly innocuous sentiment that possesses profound meaning. Improving self-esteem comes from self-reflection on values and determining what resonates with you. I emphasise the need to be vigilant and guard against the inner and external critic joining forces, as I recognise the powerful influence it exerts on our perception of reality. I have learnt self-knowledge provides impetus for self-regulatory behaviour.

Self-knowledge can be achieved by differentiating your fundamental beliefs from the inner or external critic’s message. This can be achieved by redirecting our focus to what truly matters to us.It is crucial to silence or refute critical messages by developing an inner self-affirming voice. 

By refuting these messages, you are nullifying the power of the inner and external critic. Negative messages need to be deconstructed by recognising how it impacts you and choosing your response appropriately. 

Strive to maintain in the body a proper physical, mental and spiritual balance. Wrongful thinking may upset this balance. Wrongful thinking invariably leads to negative emotions ranging from anxiety to frustration. Negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, hatred, frustration boredom and depression will result in the body falling ill. Conversely, proper thought will restore the state of good health. Refuting cognitive distortions like overgeneralizations and self-blame is important. Another typical example of a cognitive distortion is polarised thinking. Polarised thinking is when we think in extremes, for example things are either good or bad. We typically tend to forget there is a middle ground and living in extremes may cause unnecessary distress.

Personalisation is another example of cognitive distortion. Contrary to common belief the world does not revolve around you. Situating yourself in the center of every situation is not rational, as not every situation is tied to your actions.This is a possible trigger for self blame.

 Another distortion is mind reading; where we labor under the assumption that we are mind readers. This is a fallacy as mind reading does not exist. So next time, stop yourself from acting on what you think someone else may be thinking. All these distortions can impact our self-esteem negatively. People often tend to allow these distorted perceptions to influence their understanding of the situation at hand.

Avoidance remains a common struggle as most people abhor conflict. When avoidance becomes a habit; problems increase tenfold. Intentionally ignoring uncomfortable situations, will not make it disappear magically. It is more effective to face obstacles head on and resolve it, as resolution establishes alternative possibilities.This, in turn, will remove the overwhelming feeling that frequently accompanies avoidance.

 To acknowledge that the life we live is a reflection of the decisions that we made, both good and bad is imperative. In other words, to assume ownership of our successes as well as our failures are indicative of becoming sovereign.Taking ourselves out of unfortunate circumstances and elevating ourselves to the next level is life affirming and shows that we all possess the ability to transform our lives for the better.

So remember, it is by honouring yourself that you remain in your true power. Staying true to yourself is honouring yourself and that is powerful. It is the inner commitment to be true to ourselves and follow our dreams that trigger the support of the Universe.