How To Make You Feel Good About Yourself

Most of the time, no matter how hard we try to get the “funk” out of our system, we just feel so bad,

down,

depressed,

lonely,

unmotivated,

like a lone flower in a dessert whose stem is so bent the petals touch the ground (oh my, such lonely imagery…)

Sometimes it feels like we just simply aren’t good enough.

Or maybe we feel that bad things just keep happening to us.

Well, these emotions are normal.

But what’s important is what we do to address these feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and just plain “hulaless-ness” (“Hulaless” – a word from Lilo and Stitch the movie, which appropriately describes how I sometimes just stay in my bed without wanting to move an inch)

1. Choose to be HAPPY

Feeling good about yourself begins with your decision to choose to be in a better place.

Nothing and no one else is responsible for your happiness.

It’s a choice that you make.

Your mind is a very powerful tool to either help you, or bring you down.

Decide to get out of your slump, think positive thoughts, and go about your day saying to yourself “Hey, whatever happens, I choose to be happy.”

2. Surround yourself with POSITIVE PEOPLE

Have breakfast, lunch, merienda, dinner, or coffee breaks with people who are naturally uplifting.

Stay away from office mates, group mates, or relatives who are negative people, particularly during your slump-y times.

Positive people will influence you with their thoughts or actions – allow this to happen.

Sometimes society is so full of negativity (forever may patayan sa tv or nakawan na nakita through cctv – a recent favorite among news programs, telenovelas, false advertising, neighbors who were born para mang-chismis, etc.), it’s just best to ignore them, and have productive, uplifting conversations with positive people.

3. Do something NEW

Sometimes, getting out of your daily rut would help, particularly if you’re engaged in activities that seem to be just “have to Dos” instead of “Want to Dos.”

Your body and mind needs an occasional boost.

Even a simple activity such as eating in a new restaurant, going to your office using a different route, or re-arranging your furniture, can make you feel good about yourself, giving you that sense of joy, wonder, or at least satisfying your curiosity even on simple levels.

Allow yourself to experiment on new activities that will contribute to your growth.

Welcome change in your life, and maybe that change might actually lead you to bigger goals, bigger dreams.

4. HELP someone

There’s no better feeling then being able to help someone else in need.

We’re not saying that you go out and help each person you meet on the way, as helping more than you’re capable of is actually unhealthy.

Sometimes, offering a shoulder to cry on, giving an extra hundred to help your nephew with his project, or helping out your mom in the kitchen, could actually make you feel good about yourself – na may pakinabang ka pala naman kahit papaano 🙂

Go to orphanages and spend time helping out the social workers there.

Volunteer for a community activity.

The opportunities to help are endless.

5. Do something you are good at

Know your core gift, and do it.

This will help you build your self-esteem, and lead your way to success.

It could be as simple as cooking for your loved ones, organizing parties for your friends, or taking on extra work in your office or community that you enjoy.

This will reinforce how great you are to begin with 🙂

6. Appreciate who you are now

You wouldn’t be who you are now if not for your past accomplishments.

Re-examine your life and try to remember all your past achievements, even if it’s as simple as winning a bookmark-making contest (ehem, hehehe) 🙂

Remembering that you are capable of doing exemplary work would motivate you, believing that success can easily be achieved again, since you achieved it before.

Anyone has her own mini-success stories. Celebrate that.

Remember all those moments of victory and push yourself to victory once again.

7. Don’t be too hard on yourself

Everybody makes mistakes.

Even your boss.

Even your parents.

Everybody.

It’s part of human nature.

Don’t dwell too much on your mistakes, or on the mistakes of other people.

Learn from them quickly, and move on.

If guilt is eating you up, then remedy the situation if there’s someone else involved, vow to do your best never to do it again, then again, move on.

“Life is a series of mistakes that you learn from, and happy memories due to the lessons you have applied” – Ms. DP.

• DP sources and inspiration: *U.B.E., and feastalabang talks
*U.B.E. – DP’s Universal Bank of Experience