Christian Living

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Some Revealing Questions to Ask Yourself….Part II
By Dan Langerock

Think about the things you have told yourself during your life or allowed others to say? Make a list on one side of the page and blank on the other. Now consider how many of those items came true in your life, good or bad.

When we put ourselves down or allow others to, we are sabotaging ourselves. This is especially true when we put ourselves down, because we believe ourselves more than anyone else. To test this, remember back when you were getting a cold, headache or whatever and you told yourself or someone else “I’m getting sick.” What happened next? You probably got worse because you basically talked yourself into getting sick.

This can be seen also in the hospital setting. When a person has a serious disease, their attitude toward life and the illness will help determine how fast they recover and sometimes their ultimate diagnosis. Think of a balloon inside of you being your self- esteem and self-worth. Now, every time you allow deprecating comments about yourself, that balloon shrinks a little bit.

Here is a strategy for you to put into practice. Instead of doing what you have always done in this area, try working on that area instead of voicing what you think of yourself. This will be a positive boost to your self-esteem and beneficial to your overall way of looking at life.

There is never a good reason to put yourself down or allow someone else to. Many times, when others do this. it is a control mechanism to “keep you in your place”, so you don’t break the mold of their expectations for you. Break free of that mold, if there is one, and be free. God wants you to have a healthy self-worth as long as it doesn’t venture into the realm of pride that is harmful.

There is the kind of pride that boosts itself above everyone else, including God, that is detrimental to you in many ways, including spiritually. Then there is the kind of pride of accomplishment that helps us navigate life with assurance that we can accomplish what is set before us. We just have to watch that this type does not become the bad type of pride by carrying it too far. The bad type of pride ruins our lives and isolates us from others. The good one is like fuel that drives us toward our ambitions and dreams

Be careful what you say or think to yourself or let others tell you, because once the vital ingredient of self-esteem is wounded, it can be hard to heal. Statistics show that it takes at least twenty good comments to cancel out a bad one, if ever. Sift what you say and think or allow to be said to you. God will help you with this if you will ask for wisdom. He loves you very much and doesn’t want you to be put down.

Seek to be around those who encourage you. Not everyone is going to like what you are doing, so watch the reaction when you tell what is going on in your life, and be selective whom you tell. Don’t unload on everyone you meet because you will lose valuable friends this way. Pick a few people to confide in, who have your best interests at heart, then don’t overload them with your problems. Be considerate, as you would want to be treated.

God is your ultimate resource for encouragement if you will choose to be close to Him. Just as we choose to be close to physical people in friendship or other relationships, you can also be close to God. He loves you but your free keeps you from the closeness you need. Your choices in relationships help determine how you will navigate life and what quality of life you will have. This is also true spiritually. If you choose not to be close to God, then you leave a void in your life that nothing else can fill. What choice have you made in this respect?

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