Self-esteem, Self-image and Self-concept, Part 1

This is like the other blog on Self-esteem except it has scripture included.

What is self-esteem, self-image and self-concept?

• Self-esteem is the feelings we have about ourselves.
• Self-image is the picture we have of ourselves in our mind.
• Self-concept is what we think about ourselves. 

The way to improve our success in life is to improve our thoughts, image and feelings we have for ourselves. If you are reading this blog I am assuming that you are raising children. As adults, we have the power to affect those children’s self-esteem, self-image and self-concept. 

The spies had given the report that the land was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey. Caleb said in Numbers 13:30 “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

But the 10 other spies said there were giants there, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes” Numbers 13:33.

The image of themselves stopped them from taking what God had given to them. Their image of themselves prevented the whole nation of Israel from entering the promise land.

 Is there something God wants to give you but you are stopping Him because of an image you have in your mind? My image of myself was that I was not good enough. But God has a different image of me. He views me as his daughter (John 1:12) He has a plan for my life (Jer. 29:11) and He loves me just the way I am (Rom. 5:8).

Yesterday morning when I was in bed, I heard a mother screaming at her child, “You split milk all over the place. You f***ing child. What the h*** were you thinking? …. Who gives a f*** if you are sorry”

My heart broke for that child. What kind of self-image do you think he will have? I am in my forties and I have been battling low self-esteem all my life because of my mother.

As parents and caregivers, we do make an impact on our children. What kind of an impact do you want to make?

Ahaziah became King of Judah in 2Chron. 22:3 it says “He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong.” I do not want to be remembered for teaching my child to do wrong.

Another example of a parent’s influence, 2 Chron. 26:4 King Uzziah “Did what was right in the eyes of the Lord just like his father Amaziah had done.” What kind of influence are you providing for your children?

Oprah Winfrey’s grandmother saw in Oprah talent for talking. She had her reciting scripture at church before she was in kindergarten. What impact do you think that had on her self-esteem?

Tiger Wood’s dad saw in him a talent for golf. At age 2 he put him in a tournament for boys 10 and under. Tiger won. Just because of where he is today, I believe his parents always supported him.

Bill Gates, mother was in charge of the PTA at his school. She worked to get computers into the school when he was in the 7^th grade. (They were big and expensive back then) In the eighth grade, Bill wrote a manual for a program.

Grandmother, dad or mother we have the power to shape our children’s lives. What will you commit to do today to help your child’s self-esteem, self-image and self-concept improve?