Love Yourself: Regaining Self-Worth

When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back, or rewarded yourself for just being you? Chances are it´s been awhile. Sadly, you have probably criticized yourself many times today alone.

An  ABC News article reported that 35 percent of women have negative thoughts about their body up to five times a day. Yet, how many times have you thought positive things about your appearance, personality or accomplishments? Can you count them on one hand?

Perhaps you are the first one to compliment others and give those around you a boost – but you keep this encouragement from yourself. If you find that you rarely give yourself the praise you deserve, it may be because:

You have low self-esteem

You feel guilty doing so

You feel you should only focus on others

You have trouble recognizing your accomplishments

Be aware that just as you respond to other´s need to be recognized, you, too, deserve to feel special.

Getting some well-deserved recognition is actually a very primal need. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter produced in your brain, makes you feel pleasure, pride, contentment and a host of other good things. It´s released when you receive recognition. However, when you´re expecting praise but don´t receive it, dopamine levels drop, leading to feelings of frustration, anger and anxiety.

You don´t have to wait to get recognition from somebody else. You can give it to yourself.

How?

Well, according to Hale Dwoskin, CEO and Director of Training at Sedona Training Associates, it´s natural once you achieve a lasting, positive mindset.

"It´s not the actual singing of your own praises that improves your self esteem and well-being," Dwoskin says. "It´s the mindset that allows you to do that -- that produces the positive result. In other words, the better you feel about yourself the more likely you are to give yourself credit when you deserve it."

Learning to Love Yourself

Getting the mindset that allows you to love yourself unconditionally is easy when you learn The Sedona Method. This is a simple tool that has helped hundreds of thousands of people value who they are right now.

It works by teaching you how to let go of the guilt, negativity and belittling feelings that keep you from feeling great about yourself.

"The simplest way to improve your feelings of self-worth and well-being is to let go of all your thoughts and feelings to the contrary," Dwoskin says. "As you do this you naturally feel more confident, relaxed and open. This may or may not have you tooting your own horn, but either way you will feel better."