Women and Self-Esteem

Women and Self-Esteem

Self esteem issues can target men or women, but the alarming researched results showed that women, on average, have approximately thirteen daily negative body image thoughts related to themselves.  If you break that down to the hours an average person is awake, that amounts to nearly one negative thought during each one of those waking hours.

The world throws images of enhanced and photo-shopped pictures of beautiful men and women.  They surround us in our everyday life.  While negative body issues are the culprit in many women's low self-esteem, they are not the only factor.  Truth be known, the way in which you were raised, the community and cultural efforts of our family and friends, and even our thoughts can all work against a person to lower our self esteem.

With all this surrounding evidence to confirm suspicions of self esteem lack, it is wonderful to receive some Biblical assurance from such verses like Romans 12:3 (King James Version).  It states, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

We need to take ownership of the issue and not cast it out as an issue that cannot be resolved, simply because we do not control the world.  It is true, we do not control the world, but we serve a loving God that wants peace, abundance and prosperity.  We can channel that negative data that we have been given and have believed, and focus on the ways in which we might have allowed that into our lives.  We are not destined to live with low self-esteem, but we do need to act on it before we can truly "listen" and apply that scripture's truth.

Comparing ourselves to others can be detrimental to one's self esteem.  We were all blessed with gifts and areas where we soar, but all too often it becomes easier to focus on our lack in comparison to our counterparts.  Then, there is the all-too-often inability to believe and graciously accept flattery or compliments.  We tend to turn down the kind words making the giver of compliments feeling disregarded and eventually the persistent put downs become the new truth.

Doubting ourselves and our ability to have an accurate idea of who we are or what we believe to be true can also be a hang up to women.  The moment our truth that we believe is challenged, we sometimes fall into the trap and doubt ourselves.  These hang ups may not be identified with in full, but there might be a tendency towards one or two of the aforementioned.

Turn those doubts and reclaim and rebuild that self esteem by going to the Creator that 'wonderfully made you'.  Capture those negative and destructive thoughts and give them to God and pray in agreement to stand on the firm truth of His promises.  The Lord does not make junk and when He created you, He wanted you to see the beauty and wonder of his creation.  Align yourself in prayer and stand on the evidence of His amazing masterful works.