LESSON 1:
SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-CONCEPT & COMMUNICATION
Humans need a good self-concept and good self-esteem in order to develop and function in the world.
A GIRL WITH GOALS AND VISION
Imagine that!!!
Avril Lavigne grew up in a family in small town Napanee, just west of Kingston, Ontario. As the middle
child who “always wanted to be the centre of attention”, she remembers that she had to work very hard
to pursue her goals.
Avril began singing as a youngster, trying to convince everyone who would listen that she would one day
be a major rock star. A “small town kid who couldn’t sit still in class”, Avril had to call upon her
confidence and determination to “make it big”. She started singing gospel music in church and at
festivals, she sang country music at Fall Fairs and Talent Contests. Avril suffered many rejections and
disappointments but, through perserverance, she was discovered eventually by Arista Records in New
York. Although this was the breakthrough she needed, her efforts didn’t pay off at first. She was
determined to be a success and made the gutsy move, at age 16, to move to Los Angeles. There she
found the perfect producer/songwriter and she has never looked back.
Avril states that even as a child who quit school early, she still had goals. Sometimes “the days were
dark” but she kept her focus on her dream and put a plan into action to make it happen. “Everyone has
a dream”, says Avril, “just take stock of yourself and go for it!”
What are your dreams?
How might your present skills relate to that dream?
What new skills might you need to develop?
SELF IMAGE
Self-Image is the idea, conception, or mental image one has of oneself.
Self-image is how you perceive yourself. It is a number of self-impressions that have built up over time:
What are your hopes and dreams? What do you think and feel? What have you done throughout your
life and what did you want to do? These self-images can be very positive, giving a person confidence in
their thoughts and actions, or negative, making a person doubtful of their capabilities and ideas.
Surprisingly, your self-image can be very different from how the world sees you. Some people who
outwardly seem to have it all (intelligence, looks, personal and financial success) may have a bad selfimage. Conversely, others who have had a very difficult life and multiple hardships may also have a very
positive self-image.
Some believe that a person's self-image is defined by events that affect him or her (doing well or not in
school, work, or relationships.) Others believe that a person's self-image can help shape those events.
There is probably some truth to both schools of thought: failing at something can certainly cause one to
feel bad about oneself, just as feeling good about oneself can lead to better performance on a project.
But it cannot be denied that your self-image has a very strong impact on your happiness, and your
outlook on life can affect those around you. If you project a positive self-image, people will be more
likely to see you as a positive, capable person.
However, it's important that your self-image be both positive and realistic. Having a self-image that is
unrealistic can be a drawback, whether that self-image is negative OR positive. Sometimes having an
occasional negative thought or criticism about oneself can encourage change, hard work, growth and
success. Sometimes having too positive an image of oneself can encourage complacency,
underachievement, and arrogance. Finding the balance between feeling positive about oneself but
having realistic goals is important.
Define Your Self-Image: What's Your Internal Voice Saying?
It's surprising how often, and how natural, it is to judge oneself. Have you ever asked yourself "what was
I thinking?" or thought to yourself "that was stupid" when doing something? That was your internal
voice judging you. In some people that internal voice can be too critical and harsh, leading to low selfesteem. In others, it may be so weak that they don't notice when they are mean or insensitive to others.
Listening to your internal voice and judgments of yourself is the first step to changing your self-image
and esteem. Being aware of self-criticisms (or lack of criticisms) can help you determine your current
self-image and decide if it needs to be improved and how.
One way to gain a better understanding of your current self-image is to imagine your reaction to certain
situations. For example, if you start a beautiful morning thinking, "I can't wait to get outside and do
things!" instead of chiding yourself for not getting out of bed, "don't be such a lazy slob; start moving",
you are exhibiting a more positive internal voice.
But sometimes it's hard not to listen to an internal voice, even when that voice is critical. Sometimes a
person passes internal judgments to protect him or herself from potentially awkward or uncomfortable
situations. For example, telling yourself you aren't able to do something or convincing yourself that
others won't like you is a way of avoiding potential failure or rejection. Because of this, people often put
up with internal criticisms, even though they lead to low self-esteem.
But it is possible to protect yourself without limiting yourself. For example, you could place less
importance on other's opinions of you ("so what if they don't like me?"), or emphasize the positive ("at
least I wasn't afraid to try"), or you can practice silencing your internal voice or correct it when it
exaggerates your negative traits. It's important that when you make internal judgments you also listen
to the more rational part of yourself that can adjust for any unreasonable criticism.
IMPROVING YOUR SELF IMAGE
Improving your self-image, like improving any skill, takes time and practice. Developing good selfesteem involves encouraging a positive (but realistic) attitude toward yourself and the world around you
and appreciating your worth, while at the same time behaving responsibly towards others. Self-esteem
isn't self-absorption; it's self-respect. By working from the inside out (focusing on changing your own
way of thinking before
changing the circumstances around you), you can build your self-esteem. The goal of this positive
thinking is to give yourself a more positive self-concept, while seeing yourself honestly and accepting
yourself, and removing the internal barriers that can keep you from doing your best.
Positive Thinking
There are many ways a person can change negative thoughts and self-criticism to more realistic and
positive thoughts. Focusing on all of them at once may be overwhelming, but focusing on a few at a time
and reminding yourself of these positive approaches regularly can change your self-esteem.
Read the positive thought strategies below and choose several that would help you most. Write them
down and remind yourself to pause and change your way of thinking each time you are being critical of
yourself. As you become more comfortable with each new way of thinking (for example, learning not to
apologize or accept blame for other's anger) try adding a new positive thought strategy to your list.
Positive Thought Strategies
•
Avoid exaggerations.
Correct your internal voice when it exaggerates, especially when it exaggerates the negative. Try to
avoid thinking in extreme terms ("I always make that mistake" or "I'll never get that promotion.")
•
Nip negative thoughts in the bud.
Sometimes putting a stop on negative thinking is as easy as that. The next time you start giving yourself
an internal browbeating, tell yourself to "stop it!" If you saw a person yelling insults at another person,
you would probably tell them to stop. Why do you accept that behaviour from yourself?
•
Accentuate the positive.
Instead of focusing on what you think are your negative qualities, accentuate your strengths and assets.
Maybe you didn't ace the test you were studying for, but maybe your hard work and perseverance led
to a better grade than you would have had. Maybe you felt nervous and self-conscious when giving a
presentation at work, but maybe your boss and coworkers respected you for getting up and trying.
•
Accept flaws and being human.
Maybe you did get nervous and blow that presentation at work - so what? Talk to your boss about what
went wrong, try to address the error in the future, and move on. All people have flaws and make
mistakes. Your boss, coworkers, friends, family, postman, congressman, and favourite movie star have
all made mistakes. They've forgiven themselves; so can you.
•
Accept imperfections.
Perfection is a high goal to aim for -- you don't need to start there or even end there. Make doing your
best your ideal -- what more can you realistically do? Focus on what you've gained from the process and
how you can use it in the future. Avoid focusing on what wasn't done or 'should have' been done
differently. Allow yourself to make mistakes and then forgive yourself. Try laughing instead of criticizing.
•
Don't bully yourself!
"Should have, could have, would have…" Try not to constantly second guess yourself, criticize yourself
for what you "should" have done better, or expect too much from yourself. Don't put standards on
yourself that you wouldn't expect from others. It's great to want to do well, but expecting yourself to be
perfect (which is impossible) and then punishing yourself when you fail is a vicious cycle. Using
expressions like "I should have" is just a way of punishing yourself after the fact.
•
Replace criticism with encouragement.
Instead of nagging or focusing on the negative (in yourself and others), replace your criticism with
encouragement. Give constructive criticism instead of being critical ("maybe if I tried to do ____ next
time, it would be even better" instead of "I didn't do that right.") Compliment yourself and those around
you on what you have achieved ("well, we may not have done it all, but we did a pretty great job with
what we did".)
•
Don't feel guilty about things beyond your control.
You are not to blame every time something goes wrong or someone has a problem. Apologizing for
things and accepting blame can be a positive quality, if you are in the wrong and if you learn and move
on. But you shouldn't feel responsible for all problems or assume you are to blame whenever someone
is upset.
•
Don't feel responsible for everything.
Just as everything is not your fault, not everything is your responsibility. It's okay to be helpful, but don't
feel the need to be all things (and do all things) for all people. This is taking too much of a burden on
yourself AND limiting those around you. Let others be responsible for themselves and their actions -you shouldn't feel responsible for their happiness.
•
Focus on what you CAN do, not what you can't.
Avoid "can't" thinking or other negative language. If you say something often enough, you may start to
believe it, so keep your statements positive, not negative. Don't be afraid to seek help in accomplishing
things, but remind yourself that you don't need approval from others to recognize your
accomplishments. Focus on what you're able to do. Remind yourself of all your capabilities and positive
qualities.
•
Do feel responsible for your feelings.
Just as you can't "make" other people happy, don't expect others to "make" you feel happy or good
about yourself. In the same way, they shouldn't make you feel guilty or bad about yourself. You create
your own feelings and make your own decisions. People and events may have an affect on your
emotions, but they can't dictate them.
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Treat yourself kindly.
People often feel more comfortable treating themselves in ways they wouldn't consider treating others.
Do you criticize yourself with terms like "stupid" "ugly" or "loser"? Would you use those terms to
describe a friend? Remind yourself that you deserve to be treated as well as you treat others. Do
something nice for yourself sometimes -- either in thought (give yourself a compliment) or action (treat
yourself to a nice dinner or new book.)
•
Give yourself a break.
You don't need to be all things to all people or please everyone. Give yourself permission to decide
you're doing the best you can. Remind yourself when you're doing things well -- don't wait to hear it
from someone else.
•
Choose the brighter side of things.
You can choose how to interpret comments and events, so try for the more positive interpretations. If
someone says, "You look good today," don't ask yourself "What was wrong with the way I looked
yesterday?" Accept compliments graciously (don't ask yourself why you haven't been complemented on
something else or why you haven't complemented you before.) Look at temporary setbacks as
opportunities for growth.
•
Forgive and forget.
Try not to hang on to painful memories and bad feelings - this is a surefire way to encourage negative
thoughts and bad moods. Your past can control you if you don't control it. If you can, forgive past
wrongs and move on. (Don't forget that forgiving yourself is an important part of this process, too!) If
you have a hard time forgiving or forgetting, consider talking through your emotions with a good friend
or counsellor, but try not to dwell. It's important to work through things, but you can't let the past
determine your future.
Using just one or two of the above strategies on a regular basis can greatly increase your positive selfimage and self-esteem. Making these internal changes will increase your confidence in yourself and your
willingness and ability to make external changes and improve your life.
Self Concept and Communication
How Do You See Yourself?
Self-Concept
•
the picture individuals carry in their mind of who they are, what they can do & what they are
like - IMAGE OF YOURSELF
•
relatively stable set of perceptions (emotional states, talents, likes, dislikes, values, roles, body
image, etc.)
•
foundation laid by early childhood (experiences)
•
continually changing
How the Self-Concept Develops
•
Our communication with other individuals
•
Our association with groups
•
Roles we assume
•
Our self-labels
Self-Concept: Association with Groups
Our awareness of who we are is often linked to those with whom we associate:
•
Peer pressure is a powerful force in shaping attitudes and behaviour.
•
Gender asserts a powerful influence on the self-concept from birth on.
Self-Concept: Assumed Roles
Your self-concept likely reflects the roles you assume:
•
mother
•
brother
•
teacher
•
student
Support Question: Complete the following Self Image Test in your own notebook. (Do not submit this
Question)
SELF IMAGE TEST
How positive is your self-image? Answer these true or false statements and find out.
1.
My glass is always half-empty, not half-full.
2.
I'm always apologizing for things.
3.
I'm always telling myself I "should" be doing this or that.
4.
I constantly criticize myself.
5.
What other people think about me dictates how I feel about myself.
6.
I am critical of my mistakes and relive them over and over.
7.
I always let the people who care about me down.
8.
I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders.
9.
A partial failure is as bad as a complete failure.
10.
I bend over backwards to please others.
11.
I am not sure I have done a good job unless someone else points it out.
12.
It's hard for me to forgive and forget.
13.
I have to work harder than others for relationships and am afraid that the relationships I have
will fail.
14.
If I don't do as well as others, it means that I am not as good as them.
15.
If I can't do something well, there is no point in doing it at all.
Results: Give yourself 1 point for each question you answered with a "true".
0-4
You have a generally positive way of thinking and should feel good about yourself. Keep it up!
5–8
You may be struggling with some negative emotions. Take time to review your good qualities.
9 or more
You can be very critical of yourself. Challenge yourself to change your way of thinking!
How Does SELF CONCEPT Develop?
1)
Reflected Appraisal
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self concept matches the way others see us
$
throughout life your self concept is shaped by reflected appraisal. For example, after meeting
someone new you criticize the silly giggling you did.
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your self concept is affected by significant others in your life.
2)
Social Comparison
$
self concept is shaped by comparing ourselves to others
3)
Self-concept is influenced by culture in which we are raised
Characteristics Of The Self-Concept
•
Self-Concept is subjective--we may have a distorted and inaccurate view of ourselves.
•
Self-Concept resists change.
Private (Inner You) and Public (Outer You) Selves
Each of us possesses several selves, some private and others public.
•
“Perceived self” is the person you believe yourself to be in moments of honest self-examination.
•
“Presenting self” is the way you appear to others (public self).
COMMUNICATION
Human communication is the process of making sense out of the world and sharing that sense with
others through verbal and nonverbal messages.
Why Study Communication?
•
To improve your relationships
•
To improve your employability
•
To improve your physical and emotional health
Communication Characteristics
•
Communication is inescapable
•
Communication is irreversible
•
Communication is complicated
•
Communication emphasizes content and relationships
•
Communication is governed by rules
Communicating with Others
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication occurs when we interact with another person and there is an attempt to
influence each other.
Group and Team Communication
Groups have goals. Their members feel they belong to the group and work toward the shared goals.
Public Communication
Public communication occurs when a speaker addresses a gathering of other people to inform,
persuade, or entertain.
Key Question # 1: Self-Concept and Self-Esteem
Directions: Read your Lesson 1 notes carefully and then answer the following questions in complete
sentences. Submit your answers for evaluation.
1.
What is the difference between self-esteem and self-concept? Describe them both.
2.
What is the difference between the “inner you” and the “outer you”?
3.
List two (2) factors in your environment which most influence the “inner you”.
4.
How has your heredity affected your self-concept?
5.
Think of someone you know who has a positive self-concept. How does that person interact
with others?
6.
What are three (3) ways in which self-concept can affect behaviour?
7.
Explain how a positive self-concept is developed.
8.
Why do some people have poor self-esteem? What could you do to boost someone’s selfesteem?
Communication and Self
Engage in Positive Self-Talk
•
talk”.
Intrapersonal communication involves communication within yourself. This will be called “self
•
Your self-concept and self-esteem influence the way you talk to yourself.
•
Your inner dialogue also has an impact on your self-concept and self-esteem.
•
Self-talk is related to the building and maintaining of one’s self-concept.
Visualize
•
Visualization involves “seeing” yourself exhibiting some desirable behaviour.
•
Apprehensive public speakers can manage their fears by visualizing positive results. This
reduces negative self-talk and enhances confidence and speaking skill.
Develop Honest Relationships
•
Have at least one other person that will give you honest, objective feedback.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
•
Surround yourself with people who have higher levels of self-esteem.
•
Don’t engage in pity parties.
•
Immunize yourself from negativity.
•
Do not repeat negative comments in your self talk.
Lose Your Baggage
•
Avoid constantly reliving negative experiences.
•
Let go of past experiences that cause your present self-esteem to suffer. For example, if you
find yourself telling people about past experiences that have made you feel bad, stop yourself and find
something else to say. Perhaps ask them a question and concentrate on their answer.
Key Question #2: Self Help is Out There
Directions: Go to a library or bookstore. Survey the “self-help” section. Locate and list three (3) books
which provide information on how to boost self-esteem or self-concept. Submit your discovered
information for evaluation.
Include the following:
(a)
Title of the Book
(b)
Author(s)
(c)
Year of Publication
(d)
Place of Publication
(e)
Publisher
You may wish to use a chart like this one to organize your information. Just recreate or photocopy this
chart and fill in the blanks.
Title of Book:
Author(s):
Year of Publication:
Place of Publication:
Name of Publisher:
Support Question: Sample Self Image Situations
Directions: The best way to improve your self-image is through practice. Below are a number of
experiences you may have that require you to question your self-image. Try practicing your responses to
the situations below. You may want to ask a relative, friend, or advisor, whom you feel has a positive
self-image and confidence in you, to listen to your responses and offer advice.
Scenario 1. Your friend has invited you to a party, which you'd really like to attend. Unfortunately you
have nothing new to wear and you haven't got the money to buy a new outfit. Which of the following
would you do?
a) Turn down the invitation.
b) Go, but know everyone realizes you couldn't afford a new outfit.
c) Think of some way to modify an old outfit and go.
d) Realize that you were invited, not your clothes, and go.
Responses:
If you chose option A, you are not only punishing yourself by turning down a fun opportunity, but you
are also placing too much emphasis on physical appearance and others' perceptions of you. Remind
yourself that a 'sparkling' personality can be far more attractive than a new outfit.
If you chose option B, you have decided to go but are setting yourself up to have a bad time. You're also
not giving others the benefit of the doubt - they may care more about how you behave than how you
appear.
Option C is not a bad decision and shows a lot of ingenuity on your part. Congratulate yourself on being
creative, but remind yourself that appearances (and others' opinions) aren't everything.
Option D indicates you have enough self-esteem to accept the invitation as an indication of your self
worth.
________________________________________
Scenario 2. The boss asks you to organize a going-away luncheon. You've never done this before so:
a.
You tell your boss you can't do it.
b.
You ask you boss to pick someone else because you've never done this before.
c.
You talk to someone who has done this before and get advice.
Responses:
If you chose option A, you've given up without even trying. Not only are you limiting yourself, but you
are also limiting your opportunities. The more often you respond with a 'no', the less often you'll be
asked or offered special opportunities.
If you chose option B, you've provided an honest answer. This is good, but you've also foregone a
chance to improve your relationship with your boss and his or her confidence in you. It's fine to admit
that you don't have a specific skill, but you can make this admission positive by showing your boss you
have initiative and are eager to learn. Instead of recommending someone else, you may want to say
"I've never done this before, but I'd love to try and will read up on it and get advice from someone who
has" or "I'm not sure I know how to do this, but would like to learn; maybe Mr. X (a co-worker with more
experience) and I can work on this together."
Option C is another sensible approach. If, after getting the advice, you still think you can't undertake the
assignment, you at least can go back to your boss, showing him or her that you've made an effort to
learn.
________________________________________
Scenario 3. Your class assignment from the night before is due, but you weren't able to figure out some
of the answers. You:
a.
Copy your neighbour's work.
b.
Skip class.
c.
Don't hand in the assignment.
d.
Hand in what you have done with an explanation that, although you tried, you weren't able to
answer all of the questions and ask for an appointment so your teacher can help you.
Responses:
Neither A, B nor C are good reasons for not turning in your assignment. Worse, option A is cheating! If
you chose any of the first three options, you have not focused on the real problem: you didn't
understand the assignment. This is no reflection on your capabilities. Everyone has difficulties at certain
times or with certain subjects, but you are limiting yourself even more by not addressing the problem
and learning how to handle it in the future.
Option D shows your teacher that you have made your best effort but still are having a problem. Most
teachers will understand this. The purpose of class assignments is to 'test' your understanding of what
you are learning before you are actually tested and your teacher is there to help. You may just need
one-on-one time to ask questions that weren't answered in class, or maybe you need to review the
lesson again or walk through the exercises with your teacher.
________________________________________
Scenario 4. You are behind on bills so you decide to use a credit card to pay them. When you discover
you're still behind on bills the following month, you decide to use another credit card. Eventually you're
behind on all your bills and cards, so you:
a.
See if you can get another credit card.
b.
Borrow money from family and friends.
c.
Seek advice from a financial advisor or consumer group about how to create a budget,
consolidate your debt, and pay it off.
Responses:
If you chose option A, you are just making your financial difficulties worse! Anyone can have financial
problems, but "covering them up" by using credit cards with high interest rates is just going to make you
deeper in debt. The first thing you should do is put yourself on a budget and pay off your credit cards.
You may also need to get a loan or work out a payment plan with some of your creditors. Don't be
ashamed to admit that you need to work within a budget - this is far more financially responsible than
pretending that you don't. You'll be surprised at how understanding and helpful many financial
institutions and corporations can be: they'd rather work with you to get their money back than 'punish'
you.
If you chose option B, you are admitting you need help, which is good, but be sure you don't use this
loan as a band-aid. You still need to address the cause (why you can't pay your bills), not just the
immediate problem. Again, you may need to put yourself on a budget and be sure that your budget
includes setting aside money to pay back that loan (or for future emergencies.)
Option C is probably the best option. Although it may be difficult to admit to others (or yourself) that
you need financial help, advice from experts can be invaluable. Even people who don't have financial
difficulties often seek expert advice on getting the most from their money. An honest and responsible
approach can save your reputation and lead to well-earned esteem. It can also lead to a debt-free and
even profitable future!
________________________________________
Scenario 5. A close relative is always criticizing your job, which you happen to enjoy and pays your bills,
you:
a.
Get a new job that your relative approves of so that he will leave you alone.
b.
Start to question if your job is right for you.
c.
Repeatedly make excuses to your relative about why you're keeping the job.
d.
Ask your relative to explain why he hates your job and address his concerns. If the criticism
continues, you ask him to keep it positive or withhold it altogether.
Responses:
If you chose option A, B, or C, you are placing too much emphasis on what your relative thinks is
important, not what you think is important. If you are happy with your job, if your coworkers treat you
well, and if your job meets your financial needs, you are already luckier than most! Don't let groundless
criticisms make you question your own judgment. If, on the other hand, a nagging voice in your head
(not your relative's), says that there is some truth to the criticism, you might want to ask yourself why
you are staying with your job.
Option D shows self-confidence in your judgment and a willingness to defend it. It also shows a respect
for others' beliefs. By taking the time to listen to and address your relative's criticisms, you are not only
being open to new ideas but also showing him that you respect his beliefs. Taking the time to listen and
respond may be enough to stop future criticisms. If it's not, you have every right (and the confidence) to
ask him to stop.
Key Question #3: My Good Day
Imagine a really good day AT WORK or AT SCHOOL. Things are looking up. You feel good about yourself.
Write a paragraph to respond to the following questions. Submit the paragraph for evaluation.
a.
Describe your day.
b.
What specifically is going right in your life?
c.
How do you feel about yourself?
d.
What have you done to make this happen?
e.
What can you do to make this day happen?
f.
Give five (5) of the “Positive Thought Strategies” from your Lesson Book that you can use to
make this day happen.
g.
What choices or decisions do you need to make?
SELF-IMAGE IN THE WORKPLACE
You play a huge part in your happiness, and you can greatly increase it by taking action and changing
your attitude toward yourself. You are responsible for yourself. Your happiness (or your misery) depends
in a great part upon what you tell yourself, how you treat yourself, and how you interpret your world.
Believe in yourself and believe that you are capable of handling life's problems.
It's okay to fail, but not to keep thinking you are a failure. You need to boost your self-image if you want
to succeed, say training consultants.
"I think I can, I think I can", goes the refrain from the popular children's story, The Little Red Engine.
Despite having to carry a heavy load up a steep hill, the engine believed he could do it and his sheer
determination saw him succeed. But what about those whose engine capacity is inadequate or when the
hill is too steep? When faced with impossible odds, belief alone is not always good enough if you don't
have the hardware to go with it. Research has shown that simply trying to emotionally charge yourself
up to achieve a goal will not guarantee long-term success.
What Leads to Success?
Ever wondered why kids have so much energy? When you watch your children learn tennis, you will be
continually amazed to see just how many times they can miss the balls but still want to try again. The
champions are those who can pick themselves up quickly and keep going even after having failed. They
have the ability to manage mistakes effectively. Many people would say that failure is due to a lack of
desire or talent. But desire and talent do not guarantee success. A pessimistic outlook and negative
"self-talk" may paralyze the decision-making abilities of some individuals, which in turn can lead to
feelings of helplessness. The missing ingredient can be optimism.
All of us have habitual ways of explaining good and bad events, which often stem from how we see the
world and our place in it - whether we think we are deserving or worthless. Some people have ways of
explaining events to themselves that give hope. Failure makes everyone at least temporarily helpless,
but some people have the ability to bounce back, which helps them achieve more in their work and their
relationships.
Good health, high achievement, a long life have been attributed to an optimistic mindset.
Key Question #4: How is Your Self Image at This Moment?
To check up on your self-image at this moment, answer these questions in full sentences. Submit your
answers for evaluation.
1.
Are you satisfied with the way you relate to others?
2.
Do you generally like the results of the decisions you make?
3.
Are you comfortable with your present environment? If your answers happens to be no, do you
have some specific, realistic plans for changing it?
4.
What are challenges in your life that keep you on your toes, that excite and motivate you?
5.
What things about yourself you would like to change?
6.
Explain why is it important to have a positive self-image.
7.
Explain what aspects of your life seem to be beyond your control.