Liking yourself

[Ryu2000]

How do you do it?

I remember that God loves me, and he came to me and made me his child. I look around and see that the fields are ripe for harvest. He made me exactly as I am in order to send forth his word in those harvest fields. Don't have time to feel sorry for myself! There is too much Kingdom work to do!

 

[stan1472]

I like myself more when I pursue the God-given talents/desires inside me. For example: playing musical instruments. This is something I only recently started developing, but it was a passion that I wanted to release/discover and it's truly making me more of a complete person. Plus, the music I play is worship music which makes me more grounded in God now.

 

[MarisCrane]

I think it probably depends on what you're insecure about, but...

I like going through my closet and creating outfits. Or going on a makeup swatching mission and coming up with face looks to do. Always makes me feel prettier - even if I feel ugly, it's nice to know I can create beauty & 'fake' it for a while.

 

[peacechild4]

Realise that GOD sees you perfect because of what JESUS has done for you.. learn about just how much GOD loves you.. that is the biggest self esteem builder I know... surround yourself with positive people.. and accept and listen to what they say about you.. and now that is not easy is it..

Listen to them.. take it in.. I encourage alot of people.. and so few really want to believe the nice things I say.. but those who do believe it just seem to blossom!!

When my marriage first broke down.. a few months after I met a guy on line.. and although it was way too early (he was flirting with me) he called me beautiful a few times.. and wow.. I needed to hear that.. and it helped me heal some.. I had not heard that in ages.. and even though that guy was wrong flirting when I was emotionally a wreck.. I needed to know I was beautiful.. and for some reason it really helped..

There are quite a few gorgeous and kind and GOD filled guys here that also helped heal my womans heart by just encouraging me.. I let those words go in.. and it helped so much..

I know you have plenty of friends here.. listen to them.. take what they say into your heart sweet one.. Kind words can be a balm if we let them..

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

 

[LadyOfMystery]

Note before posting: This is just me, and how I am, and how I grew up, and how it worked for me.

I grew up with tightknit parents, I could talk to especially my mom about everything. They always told me I was pretty, but they always always told me I was smart, and to like myself because God made me, and that He only made me the way that I was. That no one else was like me, that someone could mimic me, or look similiar to me, but could never be me. And I guess I just grew up with the importants of how valuable I was to God. How much He loved me, and since I knew He only made one of me, that must make me pretty special. My parents always gave me love, never made me feel unwanted, or neglected or untrusted. I was not spoiled, I had to work for anything I wanted, but could ask for anything I needed sincerely. Im daddy's little girl, and moms best friend and baby. I cant help but not to feel special, and loved.

Heres just my simple thoght: Liking yourself has nothing to do with what you do on a daily basis, how much you exercise, how much make up you put on, how someone else thinks you're pretty. All that stuff goes a way. You get tired of exercising, they quit making the brand of make up you like, that person that told you you were pretty fails you and you can't trust them anymore. And then you're in the same place you use to. Liking yourself starts with God, not things on Earth. Just God. And trust in Him. not being saved trust, but trusting His words, that He loves you SO much, He gave his only son. For you. Realize you are one of a kind, He only wanted to make one like you.


Now we're not perfect, and Im totally not saying that I go around every day feeling on top of the world and woohoo Jesus loves me!! No. lol I KNOW He always loves me, but I still get down in the dumps, feel lonely, and what have you. But it's okay cause it never lasts long, just remember you're human, so if you start to feel this way, don't think "oh no Im suppose to be happy", God doesnt always expect you to be happy, you never fail Him. He never gets disappointed. Ever.

 

[Deacon]

I am awesome....even at my suckiest of moods, I am still awesome. It's about having a positive no nonsense outlook on life.

I also love everyone I meet. Once you become my friend, you are my friend for life. I also have a no nonsense way of life. Believe in yourself.

 

[MrsSeptemberPenguin]

It can be very difficult at times, especially depending on certain experiences and what not. I know people say give it to God, but I'm human, and that's also not always very easy. So I struggle with it too... and wish I had an answer for you...

 

[TheOliveSeed]

For me, you have to love yourself. But that can be really difficult. Personally I think it's an ongoing process. You have to accept aspects about yourself first. Find out what's making you feel the way you do, etc.

Eyre, I'm not exactly there yet myself. But I like what PassionFruit said. I especially underlined that part because that's really how it is for me. Also, everyone has things about themselves they don't like. Some things you can change and others, you cannot. The things you cannot change you just have to learn to accept and realize God made you unique just the way you are and you should take pride in that.

Just focus on loving others instead. I think God cares more about how we treat others than how we view ourselves.

This's a really good point. I think serving others (i.e. volunteering) can do a lot for our self-esteem. You would forget about your own worries and help someone else and in turn, I believe a lot of unforeseen joy can come out of it.

I am awesome....even at my suckiest of moods, I am still awesome. It's about having a positive no nonsense outlook on life.

I like your confidence.

I also love everyone I meet. Once you become my friend, you are my friend for life. I also have a no nonsense way of life. Believe in yourself.

And your heart.

 

[PeculiarTreasure]

How do you do it?

When you find out please let me know.

 

[GQ Chris]

First, take your focus off yourself. Because ultimately, when it comes down to it, it is not about us.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Well you can pay attention to your thinking and take the negative critical thoughts captive.. And pray about them. And tell yourself positive things about yourself. Usually dislike of self has to do with negative thinking about yourself.

And things that you dislike about yourself that you can change like if you are overweight you can seek to change with the guidance of the lord and loving people but it's important to tell yourself and learn by renewing your mind over and over again that your body and thse outward appearances do not determine your worth or who you are.

I used to be so hard on myself because in my eyes i thought continuously that i was too fat, even when I wasn't.. and i thought "if I looked like..." then i'd be better and happier..

But that's not true, true beauty comes from the inside and not trying or wanting to be like somone else but learning to accept and love yourself... and seek to be around people who love and accept you too. Hope this helps.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Medication... I start on anti-depressants next week :o Will be doing that and continuing with therapy...

Good idea, that'll probably help.

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Tough one ... I think this takes time ... I mean years... there are not many people who look in the mirror and think wow thats me !
Most of us may think .. my teeth look so yuck or my nose is big or I have wrinkes or I am not the right shape... but as far as a relationship is concerned we have nothing to worry about our appearence because God will touch the heart of that person tp think we are lovely We have to accept the way we are made and that God will compensate for any lacking... also we always are so critical of our selves... God makes us accept our selves as we learn to trust him about our features and the person we are

 

[hisbloodformysins]

One thing I do is set goals for myself. Also recently I made a list of good traits I see in myself or of ones others have pointed out. i know sometimes it is hard. God made every one of us unique and according to His plan. Every one of us is special. Sure it gets hard to like ourselves at times. just ask God to help. Also one thing I do is sometimes say outloud "God loves me' or "I am a good person" and I say outloud how I am perhaps kind or giving or sweet or prayerful etc.

God made you how you are for a reason sister and you fit into his plan just right so don't you worry!

Be careful that you don't think that you are not beautiful and complete until or unless you meet those goals. You can learn to love yourself just as you are in the here and now.

Something else I just thought about is receiving the lord's forgiveness. The lord's forgiveness was bought and paid for by Jesus's death on the Cross for us while we were still ugly sinners.

You see the lord's forgiveness is not conditional.. it is given freely and all you have to do is ask and receive it freely. You don't even have to ask, it's already yours but for your own sake of faith you should ask for his forgiveness in the areas of your sinfulness and failings...

In 1 john it says that if we confess that we have sin, he is faithful to cleanse us of all unrighteousness..


Notice that it doesn't say "first cleane yourself and become perfect and then i'll forgive you".

I've discovered that receiving forgivenss from the Lord almighty and then forgiving yourself just as he forgave you is very freeing.

HB

 

[Im_A]

How do you do it?

Be shameless.

 

[Im_A]

Make fun of me all you want but this man got it right with a song of his:

 

[Deacon]

Make fun of me all you want but this man got it right with a song of his:

You're my new favorite person....Garth Brooks is the epitome of man...he's better than Chuck Norris (Gasp)

 

[Keri]

You're my new favorite person....Garth Brooks is the epitome of man...he's better than Chuck Norris (Gasp)

I agree. I don't understand the Chuck Norris appeal.

 

[HighwayMan]

for good or for bad, liking myself is one of the areas I haven't had a problem with.

I am not perfect, to put it mildly, and need to do better in certain areas, but at the same time I do feel that I do the best I can with what I'm given. Whether others like me or not is a different matter, but at the end of the day I know I'm trying.

 

[puffca]

I exercise, take a shower, cook myself some good food, watch a movie.
I don't have too much free time. When I do have some, I do the above things and they always make me happy.