Five More Ways To Escape Uncomfortable Feelings of Low SelfEsteem and Poor SelfConfidenceCopyright 2006 Dr Joe Rubino Five of the more common ways to relieve the pain of low self-esteem and poor self-confidence involve excessive attention to work, food, sports, sex, or even shopping. Like all addictions, they help to distract from but do not resolve the underlying problem and so one is still plagued by feelings that will continually require greater efforts from which to hide. Through hard work, we busy ourselves to the extent that we lack the free time needed to brood over our sorrows. Those who work excessively are often too tired to worry about a lacking social life or the pursuit of fun pastimes that they often likewise believe they do not deserve to experience. Work provides rewards such as money, recognition, and a feeling of accomplishment, all of which help to compensate for feelings of failure in other areas of life. In fact, it is quite admirable as just one component to a well-balanced life. However, when pursued to excess, it doesn't allow for the honoring of other equally important elements such as a commitment to family, friends, fun, recreation, personal and spiritual development, etc. An obsession with work can take its toll on health, relationships, and missed opportunities for other equally valuable pursuits.
Perhaps we experienced food rewards from our parents or authority figures for scholastic or sports accomplishments. For many, food has become synonymous with love. And so in times of stress, fear, and loneliness, many turn to food to fill a void that only love and self-fulfillment can satisfy. The more one eats as a substitute for missing self-love and intimacy with others, the more obese he or she is likely to become. This in turn reinforces the feeling that the heavier the person becomes, the less she fits in and the lower her self-esteem and self-confidence plummets. The greater the feelings of loneliness and not fitting in that result, the more she is likely to seek comfort in food (especially the high carbohydrate, high fat, high comfort variety). A vicious cycle is thus set in motion ensuring more weight gain and lower self-esteem. Many would argue that such a diversion is a healthy way to funnel energy into an activity that contributes to good physical health. However, like any obsession, when taken to the extreme for the purpose of diverting attention from issues in need of resolution, it can become an unhealthy means of avoiding areas in serious need of attention. Whether it's Internet porn sites, an obsession with strip clubs, or the need for frequent casual sexual encounters, all serve as an effort to numb the pain of isolation. Ironically, the greater the obsession to connect with others through meaningless sexual experiences, the greater one's sense of isolation will likely become. Sadly, it never does. However, all too often such excessive spending sprees send the shopaholic deeper into debt. This further reinforces or worsens the failure interpretation they already possessed and continues to diminish their self-esteem and confidence level.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com. . Dr. Joe Rubino is an internationally acclaimed life and success coach and the author of 11 best-selling books and audio programs available worldwide in 19 languages. He is the author of the best selling, "The Self-Esteem Book: The Ultimate Guide to Boost the Most Underrated Ingredient for Success and Happiness in Life" which has been called "the most transformational self-help tool available to support people to restore their self-esteem." To learn more about this life-changing book, to learn more about Dr. Joe Rubino, and to sign up for Dr. Joe's Rubino's Ezine, visit: www.TheSelfEsteemBook.com . . By: Dr Joe Rubino Travel China Past Life Recall For Greater Understanding Of Ourselves - Past life recall is one of the most interesting areas of unexplained human phenomena, although scientific methods have not yet been able to prove or disprove it, the evidence on past live recall is compelling. Where Souls Meet - The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. The Lovers Curse of Memory How to Be Here Now In Bed - The curse of memory is that memory robs us of being in the moment. Ways to Become a Super Person - I was driving down the freeway the other day when I saw a billboard with a picture of Christopher Reeve on it. Balancing the Scales - If you?re like most people you are probably working harder and longer than you used to. more... |