Doing Something Positive For Myself (Putting Yourself Out There)
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
July 24, 2008 6:42am CST
Well as some people know, I'm mostly housebound with M.E. and fibromyalgia and since my partner started working, it's just me, the cats and the TV, five days a week.
When I got ill, a lot of people didn't make the effort to maintain our friendship. Since I don't go out clubbing any more, it seems to be that I'm not considered fun any more either. Becoming disabled means you discover who your real friends are!
Anyway, all this had a really negative impact on my self-esteem - in fact due to many things, this year has gone really badly for me so far.
So what did I do to pick myself up?
I took a deep breath and kicked my shyness into check by putting myself out there as a model!
I've entered a competition to become a face for LG phones and win a weekend in London!
I figure it's about time that there was a short, non-skinny and disabled model out there and I actually have a chance here!
Here's my link if you want to see my photo and maybe even vote for me (notice how slyly I added that in there! 
):
http://www.lgstyleicon.com/vote.php?id=1924
I'm so close to being in the top five, if anyone wants to help by voting, I'd be grateful, but I'm just so proud of myself in overcoming my low self-esteem enough to put myself forward for this. 
):
http://www.lgstyleicon.com/vote.php?id=1924
I'm so close to being in the top five, if anyone wants to help by voting, I'd be grateful, but I'm just so proud of myself in overcoming my low self-esteem enough to put myself forward for this. 5 people like this
11 responses
@derek_a (10874)
•
24 Jul 08
I am sorry to hear that you have M.E. but it's good that you have gone for this modelling job. I was diagnosed with M.E. about 20 years ago and at first, I really did feel so exhausted that I would never lead a normal life again. Fortunately, I am a psychotherapist and knew the benefit of meditation and with the use of daily meditation, I manage to rise above my condition - which the doctor's told me had probably been triggered by a bad bout of 'flu I had caught a year or so previous.
I have counselled many people with M.E. and have used my own example of how it's not necessary to end up just laying about all day. You have motivated yourself and increased your sense of self-esteem, a great example to anyone who finds that they are suffering from this awful condition. I wish you all the very best with the competition.. :-) Derek
1 person likes this
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
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30 Jul 08
How did meditation help you? Was stress a trigger to you?
I try to meditate on occasion but I seem to lack the discipline to do it regularly. 
I should try and be more strict with myself to do it more regularly. It's a big boost to your spirituality and I'd like to have more time for that too.
I seem to put my illness down to a bad case of the flu too. It was the most ill I'd been before and then less than a month later I came down with another case of flu almost as bad. I never seemed to get fully well again.
Thank you so much for your kind words. The responses I've had here have made me feel even better about my decision. 
I should try and be more strict with myself to do it more regularly. It's a big boost to your spirituality and I'd like to have more time for that too.
I seem to put my illness down to a bad case of the flu too. It was the most ill I'd been before and then less than a month later I came down with another case of flu almost as bad. I never seemed to get fully well again.
Thank you so much for your kind words. The responses I've had here have made me feel even better about my decision. 1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
•
3 Aug 08
You asked: How did meditation help you?
Meditation helped me to still my mind and become more centered. If you go to my webpage here - http://ayrehypnotherapy.com/breathing.html it explains how to do it.
Stress is a fact of life for everyone, but when I found out I had M.E. I realised that my ability to handle stress was impaired. So I started meditating more frequently and for longer periods as that was my number one priority.
You would need to ask yourself, what is more important, to find some time to do meditation or to think there are other more important things to do. If you feel there are more important things, then the discipline of meditation will be very difficult, as it takes a strong commitment.
If you want further support on meditation, please message me here.
Derek
1 person likes this
@pixelpixie (473)
• Canada
27 Jul 08
I think you are VERY pretty, and you've definitely got my vote.
You deserve to go on a trip and have a good time!
I hope you win!
1 person likes this
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
25 Jul 08
Well good for you for doing this! I went on and voted for you-- you are gorgeous, hun! Good luck and keep us posted!
1 person likes this
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
•
1 Aug 08
Thank you very much! I'm still a few people behind, but at least I made it to the top ten so far! I really appreciate all the help Mylotters have given me.
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
27 Jul 08
You are a pretty lady and I did enter a vote for you, my friend. I hope you win this thing as it would be nice to know someone who wins it. I am really sorry to hear about your health issues and I feel for you as I know some people, a couple, who have M.E. and I know a woman who has fibromyalgia and I know how much she suffers from it. I hope you are feeling better and I hope you win this as it would give you some hope too. But even if you don't win this, I am glad to hear it has helped in building up your self esteem. I know I have very low self esteem but I am getting some of mine back. I lost my self esteem when I started gaining tons of weight while going through menopause. I am now losing the weight, lost 28 lbs. in the last four months, and I am feeling better about myself. We need dreams to go on and to build our self esteem, I think. Good luck, my friend.
1 person likes this
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
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3 Aug 08
Congratulations on your success. You're doing really well for yourself. I hope you find lots of ways to boost your self-esteem. Thank you so much for your vote and support.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
25 Jul 08
phaedra-scythe Your photo is that of a beautiful woman'you
have a lot going for you so bet you win this. I am glad
you overcame yourlow self esteem and did this for
yourself. Hope that things will start going well for you
and that you win the contest.I voted for you.
1 person likes this
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
•
3 Aug 08
Thank you and thank you! I don't know that I'll win, but this has been fun and that's important! I'll certainly do my best though!
@mentalward (14691)
• United States
25 Jul 08
You just got my vote! I looked through about 100 of the entries and I must say, honestly, that I did not see anyone I thought more worthy of my vote than you. You got my vote, not only because you are my friend here, but because I truly believe that you deserve it! I will also get the word out to my referrals to check it out.
I have fibromyalgia myself and, after reading about M.E., I must say that I truly admire you for doing this! It is so true about finding out who your true friends are when anything serious happens. I went through the same thing. I have lupus as well so I can't go out for a "day of shopping" or even just spending an entire day doing anything. I keep myself moving when I can and try very hard not to let these diseases get me down. I like who I am and the "friends" I lost were not worthy of my friendship to begin with!
Isn't myLot wonderful? There are so many terrific people here and I can honestly say that many here mean so much more to me than most of the friends I've had in my past.
Good luck to you! You are worthy of winning and I truly hope you make it!
1 person likes this
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
•
31 Jul 08
I'm so sorry to hear about the lupus. Have you found a successful way to manage it?
I think the adversity that illness brings can result in you becoming a lot more spiritual. I know I have, and I appreciate people a lot more for who they are and I've met some really wonderful and sympathetic people - especially here!
Thank you for your really kind words and support. x
x
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
•
30 Jul 08
Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis. Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but I prefer to call it M.E. because I think it encompasses more of what it is and chronic fatigue is easier for people to dismiss, as is often the case sadly.
Thank you for your vote lovely. xxxx
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
24 Jul 08
I think it's great that you did this, and it's enjoyable to read a discussion such as your's, instead of the 'whoa is me' type discussions just looking for sympathy. And I agree with you about the types of models you always see, like all of us are 5'10" 110 lbs. yeah right lol. Good luck on winning, you have a really nice picture, and you got my vote.
1 person likes this
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
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30 Jul 08
Thank you so much! At this stage I haven't enough votes to win, but I'm still feeling really happy that I put myself up for it. I've spent so much time trying to hide from being seen. This is the most positive thing I've done in a while.
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
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31 Jul 08
That's a wonderful thing to say. Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. 
@lyzabelle (1668)
• Philippines
24 Jul 08
Good for you. It's always been nice to find someone who is
willing to make a brave person out of their low self-esteem.
That's the positive attitude i want to see in every person
who are having problem. Cheers for you! Hope you win. Goodluck.
1 person likes this
@Phaedra_Scythe (3325)
•
30 Jul 08
Thank you very much! Since becoming ill I think I'm learning to draw the positive out of life. I think it's good to learn from whatever life throws at you.
