People are never able to outperform their self-image. The value we place on ourselves is usually the value others place on us. It’s one thing to understand someone’s view on us, but that is completely different than placing too much weight on their viewpoint. If you place a small value on yourself, rest assured the world will not raise the price.

Steps to Build Your Self-Image

Guard your self-talk

The tongue has the power of life or death. What we say about ourselves we tend to believe. What we believe we tend to act. What we act we tend to become. No world record was ever set by someone who said, “I cannot do this”.

Stop comparing yourself to others

Making comparisons is an amazingly powerful attraction that is really just an unneeded distraction to your own potential. You have to move beyond your own self-limiting beliefs. Charles Schwab said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.” He also said when a man puts a limit on what he will do, he places a limit on what he can do.”

Transform your limiting beliefs into empowering beliefs. Identify a limiting belief you want to change. Determine how that belief limits you. Decide how you want to act, feel, or think. Create a “turn around” statement that affirms or gives you permission to act, feel, or think differently.

Adding value to others is empowering

It’s hard to feel bad about yourself when you are doing something good for someone else. We have to do the right thing even if it’s the hard thing. It sounds way too simple, but doing the wrong thing does harm your self-image, and doing the right thing does raise your self-image. If you can’t be true to yourself, to whom will you be true? Practice a small discipline daily in a specific area of your life. Discipline is one of the most powerful morale builders. Celebrate small victories. Once you practice a specific discipline then celebrate that as a victory.

Even small changes are change

Your values must drive your decision for your future. Embrace a positive vision for your life based on what you value. Practice the one-word strategy. If you could pick just one word to describe yourself what would it be? If the word you chose is not positive, then drop the word and pick another. Take responsibility for your life! If you look in the mirror and do not see a capable, worthy, and fully valuable person you need to change the reflection or get a new mirror.