By Margaret Muiru.

God needs you, only you, to fulfil His purpose. Not anyone else that you admire. YOU.
Self image is a term used to describe how one sees themselves or how one feels about themselves. It is an image built over time on memoriesMany people have a negative self image or low self esteem. They compare themselves with others and feel that they fall short for example in terms of looks and intelligence. It is important for one to build up a healthy self image or self respect. This involves encouraging a positive but realistic attitude: appreciating yourself while behaving responsibly towards others.

HINDRANCES TO POSITIVE SELF IMAGE

These include:

Underestimating self. Many people do not know their full capacity of abilities
Wanting to play it safe. Often we want to live our lives the way everybody lives. We let society’s approval rule what we can or cannot do.
Fear of adventure. Many people fear taking risks due to the fear of failure.

Memory of past failures. One needs persistence in order to succeed. We should take past failures as lessons and not as a determinant of what the future holds. Often success is just round the corner from where we give up.
The comfort to settle down with self. We are usually comforted to live with what we know. But we need to go out and discover our potential.

STEPS TO OVERCOME POOR SELF IMAGE.

1. Change your way of thinking:

Imagination is greater than willpower in controlling a person. You should concentrate on positive thoughts and dwell on your strengths, opportunities and assets. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me”. Believe.

2. Establish a new Identity.

This should be an identity of self-appreciation: free of false sense of security, free of the memory or fear of failure and free of guilt and condemnation. Remember, in Christ we are a new creation and with God all things are possible.

3. Set definite goals.

In order to keep yourself motivated, you need to set goals on what you want to achieve in your life. A wasted life without any achievements is most open to a low self-image. Write a yearly goal, a monthly goal and daily goal and do not forget to cultivate your eternal goal.

4. Speak positive words.

The tongue is powerful. Through the spoken word, you create either an image of success or an image of failure. ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue’ Proverbs18:21. Also, “A man’s stomach shall be filled from the fruit of his mouth, and from the produce of his lips he shall be filled” Proverbs 18:20. We should never allow disappointments to trigger negative words of resentment and anger, self-pity and depression. Improve your self-image by positive words. Be in an altitude of praise to God even in the most difficult situations.

Guard your words and guide your self image to great heights.

5. Exercise Positive Faith.

Have a life of faith in the definite goals you have set. The work of God is Faith. He can create anything in this life. If you put your faith into God’s faith, God’s faith is going to bring forth God’s ability and God’s power in you empowering you to improve and maintain a healthy self-image. Read Matthew 25:21-30. The faithful servant continued to develop a trusting and lasting relationship with the master. Not so with the unfaithful servant who was cast away.

6. Perseverance.

Pray continually for what you need. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. 1 John 5:14 says ,”And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us”. If we desire something enough we must be consistent and diligent and go past obstacles.

Without the Holy Spirit we cannot fully enjoy the many blessings God wants to give us. Without a relationship with the Holy Spirit we are fast licking the outside of a watermelon. Cut out the watermelon and enjoy the nourishment it provides Welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life and allow Him to anoint you with power for ministry. Then you will enjoy more of God’s blessings.

Margaret Muiru holds an MA Counselling Psychology. She can be reached at Olive Counselling Centre Tel. 0722- 838395, E- mail: megmuiru@gmail.com

This article first appeared in the November 2010- January 2011 issue of Woman of Faith magazine. Copyright: Woman of Faith Magazine. All rights reserved. For comments write to editor@faithfood.net