Self-image is how we view ourselves in front of our own selves and that of others. Self-image is based on our own perceptions, beliefs, and thinking about our strengths and weaknesses. Self-image is a part of body image as to how we look at our body and also reflects our thinking towards how we see ourselves. For example, a fat person may feel insecure if all his family members are thin and fit. His bodily image may make him have low self-esteem thus decreasing his chances of growth and happiness in his life.
Also read: What is Self-Confidence?
Self-image needs to be positive and not negative. Simply put, if a person sees a good self-image and believes in himself, and trusts his leadership and abilities, he will be able to experience positive outcomes in his life and also take more risks to achieve better personal and professional goals in his life. A person may or may not have a good self-image if his life has been full of problems and surrounded by negative critics.
No one is born perfect and people with a positive self-image are aware of this fact. They don’t take success or failure to their heart and instead focus on achieving smart and holistic goals in their lives. They focus on their positive qualities and even surround themselves with people who look at their strengths and goodness in a constructive manner. This makes them learn to love and appreciate themselves as they are and avoid comparing themselves to other achievers.
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For example, you might have noticed how humble and down-to-earth are film superstars like Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, and Shah Rukh Khan in their real lives. They never doubt their worth and never live a toxic life. They never allow their pride gets in the way of their success in relationships that they develop in their personal and professional lives as well. This is the reason you may find them committed to their wives for more than three to four decades while working in the industry where celebrity divorces have become quite common.
Such humbleness comes because these celebrities celebrate each and every moment of their lives. They accept that their self-image is changing and dynamic. They appreciate how far they have come in their lives by expressing gratitude towards others and even life events. Thus, we can sum up that a person with a positive self-image usually has balanced well-being in terms of physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health and aspects of life.
Self-image cannot be built overnight and it takes many practices to build self-esteem such as identifying the positive pointers about you, forgiving yourself if you make any unintentional mistakes, encouraging yourself in tough times, learning to say no if you are unable to accomplish certain things, being more assertive about your needs and wants, giving yourself a break when things seem more challenging and overwhelming for you, and expressing your desires to others on a timely basis. A person with a positive self-image usually has a healthy image of himself and is most appreciated and welcomed by society for his smartness and intelligence.
