The Power of Self Image (Part 1)

By Noel Wu

Original Article: Source

Self-image is our personal view of ourselves and how we send a message about
ourselves to the universe. It is our mental image or self-portrait. Self-image is an
internal dictionary that describes the characteristics of the self, including intelligent,
beautiful, ugly, talented, selfish and kind. These characteristics form a collective
representation of our image assets and image liabilities as we see them.

The environment we grew up in makes the greatest contribution to our self-image.

It serves as a mirror reflecting us back to an image of ourselves. What we went
through in our experiences with others such as teachers, friends and family
contribute largely to the image in the mirror. Relationships reinforce what we think
and feel about ourselves. The image of ourselves we see in the mirror could be a real
or distorted view of who we really are. With this view, we form either a positive or
negative self-image. Our strengths and weaknesses we came to know during our
childhood are internalized and directly affect how we carry ourselves in our adult
life. We constantly process incoming information and evaluate ourselves.

Every morning, ask “How do I look today?” We have a mental image of our physical
appearance. “How am I doing?” We keep a performance image of our successes and
failures. “How important am I?” We have an inner sense of our own adequacy and
value.

Self-image is extremely important since the way we think about ourselves directly
affects how we feel about ourselves and how we respond to life. Self-image defines
the quality of our relationships and how we interact with them. Our thought process
and how we feel about ourselves directly influences the way we handle or respond
to life’s stresses. In short, a positive self-image directly affects our physical, mental,
social, emotional and spiritual well being.

How to create a positive self-image!

Since self-image is not fixed permanently, the majority of our self-image is

dynamically changing almost on a constant basis. Studies show that we can easily
adapt to develop a healthier and more accurate self perception and consequently
altering the distortions in the mirror. Change in self-image is generally a lifetime
process occurring throughout life. The first thing that takes place in a normal self-
image is learning how to freely love and accept ourselves before we will be accepted
and loved by others. (to be continue)