How to care yourself and make successful Self nurturing

Rebutting your critical inner voice is an important step, but it is not enough. Since our self-esteem is in part due to how others have treated us in the past, the second step to more healthy self-esteem is to begin to treat yourself as a worthwhile person.

Start to challenge past negative experiences or messages by nurturing and caring for yourself in ways that show that you are valuable, competent, deserving and lovable, as you learned in previous lessons about Positive affirmations. There are several components to self-nurturing:

First and foremost, practice basic self-care. Get enough sleep, eat in a healthy fashion, get regular exercise, practice good hygiene, and so forth. A healthy mind is dependent on a healthy body. When you take care of the outside, it is natural that taking care of the inside will follow.

You should plan fun and relaxing things for yourself. You could go to a movie, take a nap, get a massage, plant a garden, buy a pet, or learn to meditate-whatever you enjoy. Try new things to help you pamper yourself. This author has delved into self-hypnosis through online, downloadable sessions available online, They work wonders for me! You may want to look at it yourself!

Reward yourself for your accomplishments, big and small! You could take the night off to celebrate good grades, spend time with a friend, or compliment yourself for making that hard phone call. It doesn't matter how small the accomplishment might seem, you deserve to celebrate every single little step. Try a little chocolate ice cream, or allowing yourself to relax and just do nothing. It doesn't matter as long as it’s a reward for YOU!

You should always remind yourself of your strengths and achievements. This may seem daunting – especially when you have a low self-image. How do you find those strengths?

One way is to make a list of things you like about yourself. Or keep a 'success' file of awards, certificates and positive letters or citations. Keep mementos of accomplishments you are proud of where you can see them. Focus on anything and everything. No matter how small it may seem, if you succeeded and are proud of it, focus on it and celebrate!

A huge step you can take is to forgive yourself when you don’t do all that you hoped to do. Self-nurturing can be surprisingly hard if you are not used to doing it. Don't be critical of yourself-remember that inner voice -when you don't do it just right. Reward yourself for trying in the first place. That’s a huge step towards the positive YOU that you want to be!


There will be times when you don’t feel you deserve to nurture yourself. This is when you need it the most! "Fake it" until you can "make it." When you treat yourself like you deserve to feel good and be nurtured, slowly you'll come to believe it. You’ll be amazed at how you’ll feel when you let go of the trash and embrace the jewels.

You may find yourself a bit lost during this process. It is also important to enlist the help of others in this process.
CALLING OUT “THE TROOPS”, this is my next discussion....follow me.

50+ How to use affirmation cards to build Positive self-esteem?

Another good way to focus on the positive in your life is to make up some affirmation cards and place them in places where you will see them often.

What are affirmation cards?

These forms of affirmation are words, phrases, or statements written on 3 x 5 index cards and placed where you can see them daily and be reminded of positive aspects about you. Every time you see these affirmation cards they will remind you to affirm yourself about these positive qualities or attributes. State all affirmations in a positive way. Overcome low self-esteem and beat the negative inner voice messages.

Where is the best place to put affirmation cards?

Here are some places to put your affirmation cards:
mirror in bathroom dashboard of car
mirror on dresser desk at office
closet door desk at home
refrigerator door in your wallet
front door in your brief case
bedroom door in books you use at work or school
at your telephone

Add-ons to improve basic affirmation statements:

Try some of these words to put on your affirmation cards:
bright capable
creative strong
intelligent beautiful
smart giving
quick peaceful
loving hopeful
caring responsible
successful problem solver
calm quiet
pretty handsome
relaxed enjoyable

Consider some of these phrases as well: think happy take it easy
be calm think wisely
take action work smart
do it take the time
do it now have fun
be a winner relax and enjoy
take a risk sit back
dare to be different step back
seize the blessing take the lead
get in control give them space
let go believe in me
let them be trust in me
let it be enjoy good health

Remind yourself you must remain positive in all situations

Affirmation statements can also be used to remind yourself that you are worthy and that you need to remain positive in all situations. 

I can be a winner. I am the best friend I have.
I have solved problems like this before.
I have the ability to handle this.
I am a capable human being.
I deserve to love and to be loved.
I am a skillful and artistic person.
I can show others a good example.
Letting go is best for them and for me.
They will thank me in the future.
Nothing is worth losing my sanity over.
I am responsible only for my own feelings.
I owe no one explanations for my behavior, which is legally, morally, and ethically correct.
I deserve to have my rights recognized.
I am a deserving human being.
I deserve to enjoy the fruits of my labor.
I deserve to be rewarded for what I do.
I love myself for who I am.
It is OK to be selfish if I don't hurt anyone.
I like the way I handle problems.
I am able to handle any problem I face.
I have the right to feel the way I do.
My children will benefit from my healthy changes.
My children will survive my healthy changes.
My family will benefit from my relaxing more.
I deserve to relax more and take it easy.
There are beautiful things happening in my life daily.
I experience the excitement of growth daily.
Change is a blessing I am working toward.
Taking risks is the path to growth.
I grow in love daily.
I face each new day as a race to be won.
I am winning in the race of life.
I am a rich treasure ready to be found.
Let others know who I am.
Say hello to a new person today.
Open up to be loved today.
Be responsible. Relax!
Letting go is loving
You will be free of guilt today.
To be loved I must love.
God does not make junk.
There are opportunities in life to be tried.
My possibilities are endless.
Success is to be enjoyed.
Open myself up with one new person today.
Belief in self is a step toward personal growth.
I can handle all changes that come my way.
There is nothing I cannot handle.
Smile and let others in on the secret.

When you make a conscious effort to put these positive affirmations into your daily routine, you will be well on the way toward lifting your self-esteem and realizing your full potential as a meaningful and wonderful person!

There are so many other steps you can to raise your self-esteem and become everything you were meant to be. Let’s move on!

3 basic Positive affirmations statements for Self Esteem

There are three areas of self-affirmations. Try using any of these statements the next time you are feeling that negativity come over you.

1- I am: A statement of who you are This is a positive affirmation of a real state of being that exists in you. You can achieve a full list of I am statements by taking a personal positive inventory of your attributes, strengths, talents, and competencies. Examples include:
I am competent I am energetic
I am strong I am enthusiastic
I am intelligent I am relaxed
I am beautiful I am joyful
I am a good person I am trusting
I am caring I am generous
I am loving I am courageous
I am smart I am forgiving
I am creative I am open
I am talented I am sharing

2- I can: A statement of your potential This is a positive affirmation of your ability to accomplish goals. It is a statement of your belief in your power to grow, to change, and to help yourself. Examples include:
I can lose weight I can grow
I can stop smoking I can heal
I can handle my children I can let go of guilt
I can gain self-confidence I can let go of fear
I can take risks I can change
I can be a winner I can be positive
I can be strong I can be a problem
solver
I can pass calculus I can handle my own
problems
I can laugh and have fun I can be honest with my
feelings
I can be assertive I can let go of being
compulsive
I can control my temper I can succeed

I will: A statement of positive change in your life This is a positive affirmation of a change you want to achieve. It is a positive statement of what you want to happen. It is a success prophecy. Examples include:
I will like myself better each day.
I will gain emotional strength each day.
I will control my temper today.
I will give others responsibility for their lives today.
I will grow emotionally stronger each day.
I will smile more today.
I will praise my children today.
I will feel good things about me today.
I will sleep easily tonight.
I will feel less guilt each day.
I will face my fears courageously today.
I will take on only what I can handle today.
I will take care of me today.
I will challenge myself to change today.
I will manage my time better today.
I will handle my finances wisely today.
I will take a risk to grow today.

The daily use of these "I'' statements is another form of self-affirmation designed to counter negative self-concept. It can result in a positive attitude, optimism, and can motivate you toward emotional growth and progress.

Remember we use the positive affirmation quotes and statements to overcome low self esteem and Negative Inner voices.

You can make up positive affirmations in cards to instantly make self-mentor... we will learn how to make positive affirmation cards. Be with me....

Positive Affirmations for positive self-esteem building

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS:
Positive self-affirmations are healing, positive scripts you give to yourself to counter your negative inner voice. They can help you free yourself from the over-dependence you have on other people’s opinions, attitudes, or feelings about you and help you feel good about yourself.

When you visualize a new order and sense in your life, you can work toward a more positive attitude and take responsibility for your own health and emotional stability. You will let go of negative emotional baggage and be able to deal with your life in a realistic and positive manner.

Positive self-affirmation will help you resolve negative feelings from the past so you can face the present with a less obstructed view. In doing this, you will give yourself permission to grow, to change, to take risks, and to create a better life for yourself.

You will take a healthy self-oriented route in your life so that you can let go of the people and thoughts that drain your emotional resources and keep you from experiencing full personal health. When you recognize that you have a right to be a healthy and happy human being, you will have a fighting change at achieving your full potential.

Success prophecies, when visualized, imagined, or believed in, do come true. It’s time for you to believe that fully. This is how positive affirmations can affect you and your inner being. The biggest plus is that the negative inner voice will be quieted allowing you to find the positive inner voice that will help you become a fully happy individual.

You can utilize your Inner voice to build strong self-esteem...follow me.

There are three areas of self-affirmations. Try using any of these statements the next time you are feeling that negativity come over you.

I am: A statement of who you are This is a positive affirmation of a real state of being that exists in you. You can achieve a full list of I am statements by taking a personal positive inventory of your attributes, strengths, talents, and competencies. Examples include:
I am competent I am energetic
I am strong I am enthusiastic
I am intelligent I am relaxed
I am beautiful I am joyful
I am a good person I am trusting
I am caring I am generous
I am loving I am courageous
I am smart I am forgiving
I am creative I am open
I am talented I am sharing

I can: A statement of your potential

will be discussed in the upcoming articles, be with us..follow me..

10 Inner Voices in Healthy self-esteem Vs low self-esteem

THE INNER VOICE: Our past experiences, even the things we don't usually think about, are all alive and active in our daily life in the form of an inner voice. Although most people do not "hear" this voice in the same way they would a spoken one, in many ways it acts in a similar way, constantly repeating those original messages to us.

For people with healthy self-esteem the messages of the inner voice are positive and reassuring. For people with low self-esteem , the inner voice becomes a harsh inner critic, constantly criticizing, punishing, and belittling their accomplishments.

"take this quiz"
Do you ever find yourself berating yourself for something that you've done? Have you ever found yourself struggling with something that you know you should do but keep talking yourself out of? That’s your inner voice.

Your inner voice will say things like, “You can’t do this”, “There’s no way you can succeed”, and “Why bother trying, you’ll just fail”. Your inner voice is your harshest critic and the one who will lower your self-esteem the quickest. You need to change that inner voice from a negative influence to a positive one.

We all have an inner voice. You should talk back to it. Combat it. Let it know that YOU are the one in control, not it! Let’s look at some of the dialogue the inner voice will tell you and healthy ways to rebut what it is saying.

When the inner voice is unfairly harsh:"People said they liked my presentation, but it was nowhere near as good as it should have been. I can't believe no-one noticed all the places I messed up. I'm such an impostor."

Counteract by being reassuring yourself:"Wow, they really liked it! Maybe it wasn't perfect, but I worked hard on that presentation and did a good job. I'm proud of myself. This was a great success."

If the inner voice is unrealistically generalizing as in:
"I got an F on the test. I don't understand anything in this class. I'm such an idiot. Who am I fooling? I shouldn't be taking this class. I'm stupid and I don't belong in college."

Tell that inner voice something specific:"I did poorly on this one test, but I've done O.K. on all the homework. There are some things here that I don't understand as well as I thought I did, but I can do the material-I've done fine in other classes that were just as tough.”

The inner voice might also be extremely illogical.
"He is frowning. He didn't say anything, but I know it means that he doesn't like me!"
Tell that voice something that is purely logical.
"O.K., he's frowning, but I don't know why. It could have nothing to do with me. Maybe I should ask."
Finally, the inner voice will take things to extremes.
"She turned me down for a date! I'm so embarrassed and humiliated. No one likes or cares about me. I'll never find a girlfriend. I'll always be alone."

It’s time to tell that inner voice things aren't nearly as bad as they make them out to be.
"Ouch! That hurt. Well, she doesn't want to go out with me. That doesn't mean no one does. I know I'm an attractive and nice person. I'll find someone."

In general, when that inner voice begins putting you down, counteract with a positive statement. Don’t let that voice overtake you and talk you into something that just isn't true. You are in control – not the inner critic. Take charge and begin the journey toward more positive thinking!
One way to do this is through positive affirmations. This isn't new-age anything, it’s simply a way for you to infuse positive self-talk into your life and calm that negative inner voice.

Utilizing positive affirmations can be a very powerful tool for transforming what a person thinks about himself and as a result improve the individual’s self-esteem. Consistent use of positive affirmations will transform the negative beliefs about who a person thinks he is into positive ones, will begin to alter the basis and structure of his self talk or inner voice and produce a transformation from poor self-esteem to positive self-esteem.

While utilized in a various ways, working with positive affirmations will be more effective when delivered through or combined with therapeutic relaxation music. What therapeutic relaxation music does to enhance the effect of positive affirmations is to create a very relaxed audio environment for the individual to become even more open or suggestive to the language of positive affirmations.

When you use music while telling yourself positive affirmations, you will be more relaxed and more open to accepting the positive comments you are telling yourself.

We found a wonderful music CD at Wal-Mart that helps to calm the soul and transform negative thoughts into positive thoughts. These music CD’s are available everywhere, however. Just look for something that has calming music along with some soothing background noise like waves crashing on a shore or water that is flowing.

The key to the effective use of positive affirmation in this or any other type of intervention is consistency. The self-image and the negative thoughts about who a person thinks he is that generates his experience of poor or negative self-esteem is well established in the his belief system. In many cases the development of a negative self-image took years to create and has been reinforced through repetitive behavioral validation.

Because positive self-affirmations are key in developing healthy self-esteem, let’s look at these a bit more closely.

To be continue....