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For so long my Self-Esteem was in my boots..

01/11/2017 | Self Help

For so long my self-esteem was in my boots.... I had been badly bullied in my early life and it had damaged me enormously. I worried what others thought and I had an almost complete absence of self worth. In fact, I had such low self esteem that I found it difficult to make even the simplest of decisions without first validating my thoughts through another person. I felt pretty insignificant, I mistrusted my own judgement and was a serial worrier. Living like this took lots of energy, and being a bit like a building without a foundation I was easily shook, leaving me in great danger of emotional collapse, and this I did frequently.

When I looked around me I saw what appeared to be a world of people who seemed to be at ease in themselves, going happily about their lives. I was disconnected and empty. I couldn't go back in time to alter the origins of this but I was able to begin to make some sense of why it had became part of me. This began a slow process of discovery. I had so much emotional development to work through. Luckily I came across mindfulness, going inwards, and this began to nurture the seed of change for me. I found that sitting for just 20 minutes a day helped me feel better and I began to become increasingly drawn to this process. I simply sat and observed what was happening inside..I made it part of my routine and it felt like a going home to myself. For the first time I began to know peace and that felt incredibly soothing. Of course, In the beginning my mind jumped around and my thoughts were difficult to tame, but with focussed attention and a real will to find myself I succeeded in slowing my chattering mind. Over time the changes in my emotional state were profound. I felt calmer, I began to feel stronger emotionally and my mood was elevated. Meditation is still something I practice regularly today. It keeps me grounded and focussed and calm, especially when working with my clients.

Meditation and mindfulness offer enormous benefits to everyone, no matter what issues you are dealing with or what challenges you are facing. Try, contrary to what you may think, it's not difficult. Begin by just sitting with your eyes closed for a short period of time every day, say 10 minutes only. Repeat a mantra, or count your breaths – whatever you need to just train your attention away from your continuous thoughts. There is no right way or wrong way – you only need to be gentle with yourself. It's amazing how just 10 minutes a day can change how you feel inside. And remember, scientific research tells us that - Meditation gets rid of adrenaline and cortisol and floods the body with serotonin and dopamine. This is exactly what we all need to achieve to help us lead happier and more positive lives!