01 Oct 2024
The popular TV programme of the same name helps us appreciate our Heritage. On a daily basis, our thoughts and behaviours are built on the stories we tell ourselves and the person we believe ourselves to be.
True or not, we absorb ideas and suggestions from others about our capabilities and our skills. If someone we trust tells us we are ‘not good at …’ something, we tend to believe them. When we repeatedly succeed (or fail) at something, that too gets added to how we see ourselves.
Over time, these moments and experiences build our idea of who we think we are.
It may add to our plummeting self-esteem and perpetuate what we feel we ‘know to be true’ about ourselves.
It is the reason we have a Mind, Body and Spirit meltdown at crucial times because we believe ourselves incapable or inept.
Our body responds to our thoughts and sets off a train of responses such as an increased heart rate, clammy hands, shortness of breath, upset tummy – and a physical manifestation of sickness ‘personified’.
Our stories win.
We do not think there is another way. But there is.
We can choose not to believe those stories we have been listening to. We can turn down the dial on our pre-set thinking and choose another path.
- Do you feel ‘less than’ in any capacity, in your role as an Exam Officer?
- Has someone diminished your view of yourself?
- Have you ‘allowed’ another to squash your self-esteem?
- Are you morphing small ‘blips’ into bigger stories of inadequacy?
No-one can make us feel unsuccessful, incapable, or insignificant unless we let them. When our thinking is not strong, we can find ourselves listening to negative comment on our ineffectiveness or inefficiency. We open ourselves up to such poor comments and opinions.
We interpret others’ comments based on both their AND OUR thinking.
We should not blame others for the way we choose to view these exchanges. Neither should we let anyone add to any low opinion we already hold about ourselves.
Once we learn HOW to unravel these stories and pare back how these beliefs have been built up, THEN we can begin to see the real truth behind the stories we tell ourselves.
We need to be continually questioning ourselves on our thinking and asking:
- Is that really true about me or do I just think that it is so?
- Could I change those thoughts about myself? How might I do that?
Peeling back the many layers we have heaped up over time can help us start to shift our thinking.
The ‘Who’ that we think we are, is not set in stone. We can change our view of ‘who’ this person really is, and start to think of ourselves more favourably.
If WE have a good opinion of ourselves, then we are less likely to be swayed by others’ opinions and comments.
If OUR perception of the WHO we are is strong and stable, then we can shift from THINKING we are sound, and solid and self-assured, to KNOWING this to be true.
The identity we take on is based on fact rather than stories we have absorbed from those around us.
When we KNOW who we are, and we know what we BRING, the naysayers have less purchase on our self-esteem because it is no longer fragile and open to tears.
But it is up to us, and our perspective.
So, decide to have a good self esteem
Decide to be self-assured.
Choose to be grounded and confident.
Then, if things around you shift and comments flow, you will feel good about yourself, WHO you are and WHAT you bring.
We do important work here. Do not let anyone undermine what you do.
Love and Light,
Geraldine
One day Mindfulness based Exam Resilience Workshop for students and their teachers on practical coping strategies.
Thought Leader workshop for Teachers to develop your school’s mindful approach to forthcoming exams
Could I be your next Event Speaker? I've found the Actress in me, and I can tell a story. The stories I'm telling are based on my experience 'on the Inside'.