How we view ourselves...
By Richard
@rbailey83 (1428)
Canada
July 13, 2008 7:56pm CST
For most of us, we are around people our whole life, family, friends, and the society we live in. The self-concept, how we see ourselves, can have many influences.
As we grow up, do you think that how you see yourself comes more from within or how you perceive others to see you?
I believe my self-concept has been built on how i think others see me more than how i see myself. However, i have begun to learn that it is more important that i believe who i see myself to be.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@mygirls9901 (338)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Bailey, I built myself for many years on what other people saw me as. And then I lost who I truly was. I didn't like that. I did some searching and found myself and realized that due to me seeing myself as others see me, I have a lot less confidence in myself than I should have. I am still building that side of me up but as of right now I am as real as real can be. I am only as strong as my own weakest link. So why not get rid of that weakest link and make them all strong? That sounds good to me :P Thanks for the post :D
1 person likes this
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
14 Jul 08
very well said, i am glad your are building yourself back up, sometimes it can be tough but well worth it in the end
1 person likes this
@mygirls9901 (338)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Gosh I hope so. If not for me, then at least for the sake of my children. I want them to grow up with a happy go lucky mommy, not a depressed one. I hope that they see me as happy as I am now :D
1 person likes this
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
14 Jul 08
i am sure they will, and i have noticed, atleast with myself as i have severe depression issues, that when i am around my girlfriends daughter, my depression gets buried, i do that because i don't want it to affect her in any way or the interaction we have....i seem to do that whenever i am around children, anything negative goes out the window and stays there until they are gone, that way they are not affected by anything, and it is a positive interaction
@pheonixstar1982 (2307)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I used to try to adapt who i was to be what others wanted me to be and how/who they wanted me to be. I found that all it did was depress me. I finally started figuring out who i am and am a much happier person. I think its more important to be who we see ourselves to be and not what others see us as.
1 person likes this
@pheonixstar1982 (2307)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Yeah the only problem with being who i am is that a lot of people cant accept me. I am either to weird or to nerdy, my opinion is though its there loss, because i think i am a great person.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
14 Jul 08
i think you are 100% right, i don't think we can truly live and be happy until we realize how important it is to be who we see ourselves to be, not others view
@sunnflr (2767)
• United States
14 Jul 08
Unfortunately I let what other people think about me influence the way I think about myself more than I should. I know in my mind that it shouldn't matter what others think, that my own opinion is important, but I don't like people to think bad about me so I worry. I do know that I'm a good person. I mostly worry about what others think as far as how I look. Which is really dumb because looks are the least important aspect of a person!
@sunnflr (2767)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I don't really know how to do it either. I know positive self talk is supposed to help, but I haven't been able to practice what I preach so to speak. My husband thinks I'm beautiful and that does help, I just wish I thought so myself, know what I mean?
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
14 Jul 08
yeah i do, no matter how many times i am told i am good looking, and no matter by who i always end up thinking they are just saying it to be nice, because it would be kinda cruel to say otherwise. i also just have a hard time believeing that people want me around, and that i can't change my way of thinking, though i've tried
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@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
14 Jul 08
i know what you mean about the looks, to this day i still walk with my head down most of the times because of the way i think others think i look, it's tough to get over, have never heard anyone give a good descriptive way to really overcome those lines of thought
1 person likes this
@krayzietam (832)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I am who I feel I am. It has not always been that way though. For a while I let other people's perception of me shape how I acted. As I matured, I realized that it was foolish and decided to be who I truly was instead of trying to be a certain way. Some people still misunderstand me and seem to believe they have me all figured out. Honestly, that irks my nerves but I still continue to be who I am no matter what people seem to think.
@rbailey83 (1428)
• Canada
14 Jul 08
i think we all start out by going from what others say, and it isn't until we get older that we realize the opposite. But it is good that you have realized that and continue to live that way.
