Should is a little word that can trigger shame and stop us from making the changes our hearts most want.
Read more...Shoulding on Yourself
Category: Self-Confidence
Self-empathy Versus Self-pity
I often encourage my clients to practise self-empathy or self-compassion. I consider it an essential step in the process of healing and reconnecting with oneself, and others. Occasionally, people are taken aback by the idea of self-empathy. They equate a focus on the inner world with self-pity. Yet, self-empathy and self-pity are not the same […]
Read more...The Importance of Self-Awareness
Gnōthi Seauton (“Know Thyself”) (inscribed on the Temple of Apollo, Delphi, Ancient Greece) Having worked with people inside organisations for years I learned that those who take responsibility for knowing what they don’t know are more respected than folks who pretend to know everything. These days, I am reminded in my private practice work that […]
Read more...The Power of “Even Though”
Many of us don’t act until we feel like taking action. This might work well in some areas of our lives, such as getting our hair cut. But if we wait for the right feeling before being kind to others, starting an exercise program, or practising more patience, we may never take the critical first step. We […]
Read more...Emotionally abusive partners: Don’t take it in
*NB: I have used the male pronoun for ease of writing and because many abusive partners are male, though certainly not all. These points apply equally to females who are repeatedly abusive. These principles may also apply to emotional abuse in other relationships, such as friendships, sibling, colleague, and parent-child relationships. Emotional abuse is […]
Read more...Low Self-Confidence and Criticism
There is a huge difference in the way people respond to negative comments and criticism. Those with low self-confidence handle it very differently to those people who are self-confident. When people with low self-confidence react to criticism it’s likely they will feel offended, angry and defensive. Some will feel hurt and wounded. Frequently they are […]
Read more...Low Self-Confidence and Self-Discipline
There is a close relationship between low self-confidence and lack of discipline. In a previous post Self-Confidence I explained the importance of following through on your commitments. Whenever you don’t, your self-confidence suffers. There are reasons people don’t follow through on their commitments but most people avoid even thinking about these reasons. They know they did […]
Read more...Low Self-Confidence
Many people come to me complaining about having low self-confidence. They often feel that their low self-confidence has come from challenging circumstances or difficult experiences. They are reluctant to take responsibility for their low self-confidence. They feel like victims. Many of them have been victims. Many were mistreated in childhood. Many didn’t feel accepted. Many […]
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