Paying it Forward: How’s your self-esteem?
'Check-in with the mirror, morning and evening,' I heard this week, after submitting the article below for publication.
Are you sure of yourself? Our self-esteem is how we see ourselves. For many, when things are great in our lives, then our self-esteem does well.
A few bumps can disrupt our self-esteem; consider loss(es) of job, health, money, or a family member. Age influences self-esteem, as others see us as being too young, or too old. These bumps and slights accumulate. Too much, like bullying, really affects a person and can cause physical and mental problems that require professional help.
Affirmations help our self-esteem. There is no easier affirmation than by helping another. And when you help another, you become part of a community.
Each community is different. One could be a member of a walking group as well as a mentor reading to students at Booker T. Washington Elementary.
When you belong to a community that models the support their individuals need to thrive and grow, then your self-esteem blossoms and you feel better. Others around you also feel their self-esteems improve.
Consider life’s bumps as storms. We had over 5” of rain last week, but sunny skies the day after. Get out in the sun and do something.
If you’re an adult, how about mentoring someone at Booker T. Washington Elementary School. They just need you to show up and listen while they read. Do you have 30 minutes to share your self-esteem with a child?
Volunteer to get yourself into a “community of others.” Volunteering doesn’t have to be hard, or require a lot of interaction with others if you aren’t up to it.
Consider a few of the things I’ve done: Meals on Wheels, Wild Bird Rescue, helping serve meals at Faith Mission or Faith Refuge, donating items you don’t need anymore, walking the neighborhood, and giving blood at Texas Blood Institute: https://ourbloodinstitute.org/where/donor-centers/wichita-falls-donor-center/
By being out and about, you model the basics of self-esteem. You are engaged with the world around you. Feed the birds or feed the people. Both feed your self-esteem.
Step up. Not just for yourself, but to help another. We are community, stronger together.
Published in Trends section, Wichita Falls Times Record News, Sunday Nov 18th.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?