The child learns by personal experience that the foot begins with him and is a part of him, while the toy is not. The child knows nothing about himself except what he hears others say. He keeps hearing his name, hears his parents, teachers and others calling him strong, smart and good, etc. As the child had no previous data with which to compare what others say about himself, he readily accepts their adjustment as to his worth.
The child integrates the statements made by others about him into one consistent pattern, which is called the Self-Concept. Over the years you have collected a series of ideas, opinions, doubts, fears, attitudes, values, expectations, hopes and other impressions. They will operate from your subconscious mind continuously throughout your life unless you deliberately change them.
Your Self-Concept is made up of three parts, namely, self-ideal, self-image and self-esteem.
Self-Ideal
Your Self-Ideal is the combination of all the qualities of other people you most admire. Even without your knowledge, you will be constantly striving to be more like the person you admire.
Part of your ideals are your goals. As you set higher and more challenging goals for yourself, your self-ideal improves. When you set clear goals for the kind of person you want to be and the kind of life you wish to live, your self-ideal becomes a greater guiding and motivating force in your life.
What is your ideal vision of the very best person you could possibly become? How would you behave each day if you were already that person? Asking yourself these questions and then living your life consistent with the answers is the first step to creating yourself in your ideal image.
Self-Image
Your Self-Image is the way you see yourself and think about yourself in the present. It is often called the ‘inner-mirror’.
All your actions, feelings, behaviors, your abilities are always consistent with this self-image. In short, you will ‘act like’ the sort of person you conceive yourself to be. Not only this, but you literally cannot act otherwise, despite all your conscious efforts or will power.
The self-image is a Premise, a base, or a foundation upon which your entire personality, your behavior, and even your circumstances are built.
Poor Self-Image leads to Inferiority complex, Fear of Failures, Lack of Motivation, Depression, Sense of Insecurity, Suicidal tendencies, Introversion and Isolation, Self-Pity and blaming others for one’s own mistakes. The self-image can be changed only by creative, visualization and auto-suggestion.
Self-Esteem
Your Self-Esteem can be defined as how much you like yourself. The more you like yourself, accept yourself and respect yourself, the more you feel that you are an excellent human being, the more positive, happy and successful you are in life. People with high self-esteem have tremendous personal power and do well at anything they attempt.
- Your Self-Ideal determines the direction of your life.
- Your Self-Image determines the way you perform in the present.
- Your Self-Esteem determines the quality of effectiveness of your performance.
Try to bridge the gap between your self-image and the self-ideal, with the help of high self-esteem. Then, you will find that nothing is impossible for you to achieve.
