This year, spring into a healthier self image!
As the days start to get a little longer, the snow begins to melt and we approach the beginning of March. I feel the excitement that comes with knowing Spring is just around the corner. I can always count on Spring to bring many good things like getting to see more of my neighbours as we all come out of hibernation, spending more time in the fresh air and seeing the bright colours of blooming flowers and new leaves on the trees.
Spring is a time of new growth. In many ways itís a fresh start; a time to shed what we no longer need and to identify what needs a little nurturing and tending to.
One area that often needs a little more of my attention is my self-image. I am happy to say that it gets healthier and stronger each year, yet I am aware that every now and then weeds still need to be pulled. I may come across a belief that is not in harmony with who I want to be. It may be something as simple as a thought like 'I could never' or 'I don't deserve'. One thing that I know for sure is that the more old weeds I pull out and replace with new seeds, the healthier my self-image becomes.
So what is our self-image? Just as every company has a corporate image, each one of us has our own self-image. It is our own perception of the sort of person we are. It determines what we believe we are able to accomplish, as well as how we interpret other peopleís reactions to us.
Bob Proctor says, "Science and psychology have isolated the one prime cause for success or failure in life. It is the hidden self-image that you have of yourself. It controls your mind, just as surely as your mind controls your heartbeat. To remake your hidden self-image for success and fulfillment is to remake your entire life."
Our self-image is formed through our past experiences and conditioning. It is the culmination of the beliefs and the ideas that we have gathered about ourselves that have become fixed in our subconscious mind. The more positive and supportive these beliefs and ideas are the healthier our self-image is.
Often when we struggle to improve, reach a goal or make a positive change in our lives it is because our hidden self-image is not in line with what we want to achieve. The error we often make is that we try to change the end result. The results we are getting in our lives are determined by our actions and our actions are continually being motivated by our self-image. So, the way we improve our results is by improving our self-image.
Our self-image creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. Even though we love the idea of what the new result would bring to our lives, if we have a difficult time seeing ourselves as someone who can achieve the result, our results will remain the same. Our beliefs are so strong that when we attempt to deviate from our course by changing our actions, we are pulled back. All we need to do is to start inside and put our focus on the cause of the result, instead of the effect. When we start here and build a beautiful self-image we see the results that we desire in all areas of our lives. As James Allen said, "You cannot travel within and stand still without."
So as you see the new buds begin to break ground take some time to look inside and tend to some of those old weeds. Begin to pull out anything you find that is not in harmony with who you want to be and make room for healthier growth.
5 tips to help you get started
1) Write a detailed description of your ideal self-image. Ask yourself questions like "How would I treat myself? What would my life look like? How would I spend my time?" Write it in the present tense. i.e. I am so happy and grateful now that I....".
2) Allocate some time every day to relax and visualize yourself with your new self-image and the results that it will bring to you.
3) Review how you have been living and decide what changes must be made to become the person you have visualized yourself being in your new image.
4) Pick one or two changes and start implementing them until they have become a habit.
5) Make it a habit to check in with yourself throughout the day and see where your thoughts are. Make note of whether they are thoughts that are supportive of you or ones that arenít.