Maintaining High Self Esteem In Harsh Environments

We know that self esteem is essential in order for us to achieve great results or success in life. But how does one maintain self esteem when faced with rough and tough situations at work or at home? Are there people in your workplace or home causing you great distress, deflating your self esteem, getting in the way of your goals or performance? How does one stay ride out such storms? Are you able to stay, cool, calm and composed and when facing these turbulent waves?

In life, various situations and people come into our life as tests to our self esteem. Picture yourself as a target board and imagine the situations and people that are causing you great distress to be arrows. These arrows will destroy your self esteem and pull you down in many ways. Don't let them destroy you, or get the best of you. How should we deal with such arrows in our life?

Here are some tips you may want to consider as a guide to maintaining your self esteem in when faced with these sharp arrows.

Arrow #1: Negative Workplace

Is there a "dog eat dog" situation going own in your workplace in which everyone is mainly concerned about getting ahead of one another at each other's expense? Such environments are unhealthy and does no good to one's self esteem. Healthy competition is essential for quality, improvement and success. Do your best to avoid such environments while reminding yourself that it is your actions and response that determines your success.

Arrow #2: Negative Behaviour From Others

Gossip mongers, backstabbers and people who love bringing others down exist as a fact in life. Accept this fact while avoiding these people as much as you possibly can. Constantly maintain your focus and direction. When you are clear and focused on attaining specific results in your life, the negativity that comes from these people will be weakened and rendered powerless. Focus on completing your specific tasks and goals, not relenting till you have achieved them.

Arrow #3: Changes In Our Life and Environment

Changes are inevitable and indispensable to progress in life. This is a fact. View such changes in life as stepping stones to improve, redefine, and refine ourselves. Changes in life are often uncomfortable and sometimes stressful, but we have two choices in which to respond. Refuse them with dread and stagnate, or accept them as a necessary process for self improvement and expansion.

Arrow #4: Past Experiences

Has someone or a situation in life upset you? Are you still affected by these past experiences, bearing grudges or resentment? Or maybe you had a past failure that you keep on rehearsing in your mind, unable to look ahead or move out of it. Learn from the past, but do not dwell on it. Accumulating too much bad past is unhealthy. Use the past as stepping stones to guide you forward, viewing failures or setbacks from your mind as learning curves.

In life, we may sometimes falter when the going gets tough. Some people believe that you must be one of the 'lucky ones' who have been gifted by the heavens with high self esteem. Choose not to believe that! Maintaining high self esteem, staying and being positive is a choice. You can choose to respond to 'bad' events in your life, by blaming fate, circumstances and other people. But do such responses serve you?

Only by consistently claiming responsibility for our thoughts, actions, words and deeds can we start to develop true strength, determination and will power that emanates from our inner being. This is the best way to ensure high self esteem at all times.

Wei Chung Kay is an entrepreneur, content creator, and marketer of web content and information. He recommends Master Your Mind Design Your Destiny [http://www.kayweichung.com/success-with-nlp], the personal success system that will remove the road blocks to success by revealing secrets and strategies for achieving results in life.