New Mindset, New Look

     I read an article on Fostering A Healthy Self-Image, by the Cleveland Clinic, the other day. The article talks about the importance of having a positive self-image and how a negative self-image can affect the quality of one's life.

     The Cleveland Clinic explains self-image as: "an “internal dictionary” that describes the characteristics of the self, including such things as intelligence, beautiful, ugly, talented, selfish, and kind. These characteristics form a collective representation of our assets (strengths) and liabilities (weaknesses) as we see them."

     Knowing this, I believe it is important to reassess, refurbish, and cultivate my personal image, in order to achieve my truest untapped potential. 

(Confronting distorted thoughts related to my self-image | photo by Theik Smith) 

Areas Of Focus

     Knowing that self-image can be understood as an, "internal dictionary", of fundamentally characteristics we use to describe ourselves internally and externally; I decided it is the right time to re-define my image to properly reflect who I am to become. This means I will have to seriously evaluate my strengths and weaknesses, and formulate a short list of achievable goals. After some time of honest reflection, I narrowed down four key areas, that will serve as foundation for my journey in self-improvement. 

My four areas of focused self-improvement are: 

     1. Spiritual / Mental Hygiene (get back to praying) - Identifying who I am spiritually is the most important area of focus in my opinion. Dicitionary.com defines spirit as, "the principle of conscious life; the vital principle in humans, animating the body or mediating between body and soul", and I do believe there exists another world, parallel to ours, which directly influences the human experience. As a practicing Christian, who adheres to Hebrew tradition, meditative prayer and cleansing of the soul, has been the most effective way I've kept my mind and spirit in balance. However, the disruptive times of 2020, have left me in a state of complacency, where I don't keep to my prayers like before. The lack of meditation led to a build up of worries, stress, fear and other things, which undermine a healthy self-image. Seeing how meditative prayer is essential, and very powerful for the mind and soul, re-instituting this resource will prove immensely beneficial for mental fortification.

     Insecurities begin in the mind, and having the understanding that my mind can be strengthened through prayer, helps me build a different kind of confidence for the new world. In Isaiah 41:10, God says, 'Do Not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' So, I guess there is nothing to fear, huh?

     2. Good Hygiene (so fresh, and so clean) - Good hygiene is essential in preventing the spread of diseases and illnesses commonly communicated through viruses and bacteria. Not to mention, spending time around people who demonstrate poor hygiene can be unpleasant, and I wouldn't want to be that person. Poor hygiene can also have negative consequences on your social life and relationships — including business relationships. Companies urge or require employees to practice good hygiene, and tend to hire people who look clean and presentable. Good hygiene is especially paramount for employers in the food and medical industries, as poor hygiene can lead to contamination and the spread of disease. 

     Good personal hygiene habits include brushing your teeth, bathing or showering, personal grooming, and wearing clean clothes. Performing these habits daily or as often as needed, should achieve and maintain good hygiene and cleanliness.

     3. Eat Good Foods (you are what you eat) - According to the CDC, "people with healthy eating patterns live longer and are at lower risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity." Poor nutrition can be attributed to costly diseases, including obesity, heart disease, and some cancers. That is why it is important to fill the body with the right amount of vitamins and minerals. 

     The Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities is a great resource to use, when building a better diet. The guidelines include food and nutrition standards that support healthier choices; such as,

• A variety of fruit and vegetable options, including seasonal.
• Whole grain-rich options.
• Plant-based proteins.
• Lean protein entrees.
• Freely available drinking water.
• Meals, entrees, and sides with less sodium.

     4. Personal Appearance (sharply dress for success) - First impression are everything, and have a great appearance can, often times elevate what people think about you. In the cause of myself, it is first important to have an appearance that is both: respectable and a positive reflection of who I am. There is undoubtable a strong sense of power, and good esteem, when your dress well. The common trend in fashion today, is to dress down and not really put much effort into ones style. This kind of practice, usually leads me to feel uninspired and bland. Although, being obsessed with fashion can also be an unhealthy practice, caring about your appearance can greatly improve how you interact with the world. Mark Twain said it best, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." 

     If I'm going to be considered a person with influence, it is important that I have an image respectable to me, and those influenced by me. 

Final Thoughts

     Self-image is a fundamental part of how we see ourselves in the mirror, and deciding to embark on this journey, gives me an immense feeling of relief. Talking about one's self-image isn't always going to be easy, and having a place to share my experience is a great way to support my efforts along the way. Like I said early, it is important to cultivate the garden of your body, mind, and soul; and I will continue to explore these topics, and share my experiences in future posts. Hopefully, you guys will be able to find something useful out of my experience, to help shape your own. 

What thoughts do you guys have about self-image? Share your comments in the section below.