Self-Esteem & Giving: How can I feel better about myself?

[genuine]

So..... I know giving to others makes me feel better about myself.
The thing is this lift in self-esteem is usually temporary ... until I give something else ... I have to keep giving more and more. We can only give so much.

I want to be able to feel good about myself without having to constantly give great things. I know I need to change my mindset so I see that I am already doing great things ... so that I can feel good about myself already without having to give more and more. How can I change my mindset? I'm trying, but it's really hard. Any ideas out there? How can I feel better about myself?

Self-esteem is riding low right now. Sometimes I actually want to give because I don't feel I deserve the things I have.

[Shawn]

The whole reason you are here is that God/the Universe adores you and desires relationship with you. So you were created out of love.

Everything you see around you was created for you as an act of love - the starry sky at night, the budding flowers of
Spring, the majestic trees swaying in the wind, the songs of the birds, etc.

God/the Universe is love; and resides within you. So love is in you, all around you, and the reason why you are here.

A little fish was once told that he could not live without water. Fear gripped its little heart. The little fish went to its mother and "I am in need of water or else I will die!"
The Mother smiled and said "You are swimming in an ocean of water, my dear one! You breathe it in every second. Water is inside you and it is all around you! Open your eyes and open your heart!'

Dwell on these truths. Repeat them to yourself as you fall aslep at night.

Giving, kindness and love then becomes the water that is gushing out and spilling over the sides of your full and ever filling glass.

[Denise]

That is beuatiful, Shawn.

[genuine]

Denise is right. This is beautiful. Thank you for your kind words.
I do believe God is love ... and I must be created of love ..... still I slip away sometime and need reminders of this.

[Shawn]

Thank you Denise, Genuine, and Rebecca!
Shawn

[Ana]

Hi genuine, I am sending you a soul hug from very far away. Maybe it is time to just be ... and to receive ... even if it is just a lovely sunshing day, a kiss, a flower, a kind word. When I get into my giving mode I get so much involved with giving that I forget that it is also important to allow receiving. May be it's just one of those times. Receiving is as important as giving and sometimes we need to find the balance. Loads of Love, Ana

[Gerry]

I started the giving thing for fun. What I didn't expect was that it realigned me with the joyous place of trust in the Universe, the place where nothing can touch you. After I did my 29 days, I lost it again and here is why, I think. Lack of self-esteem is partially a dwelling on oneself --I remember years ago I told a friend that I didn't go to the pool because I didn't like to be seen in a swimsuit --her husband, passing, said "What makes you think anybody's looking at you?" It showed me that lack of self-esteem was a self-centredness in me that I hadn't seen before.The act of giving takes one's attention away from oneself a bit a day and I truly think the benefits of this are completely enormous. You don't have to give stuff to impress, you don't have to give so that people know--I just counted anything that was me exteding myself beyond the usual (like smiling at grumpy people)---I've really enjoyed the anonymous stuff too!
Your judgements on anyone else are probably less harsh than on yourself, so be a friend to yourself because happiness and joy spreads. Louise Hay's books, like You Can Heal Yur Life are great as a start-- the power of affirmations is awesome!!

[Jany]

I recognise something of myself in this. Lately I am wondering if the answers we seek lie in how we give not how much or how often we give. Also in how we give to ourselves. x

[Sabriyah Fatimah]

Hi Jany, You said it very well. I think most of us are facing self-esteem issues, or have faced them. I think a lot has to do with the spirit in which we give and how attached we are to what we give and how others react to us (we all need acceptance and validation). When we reach up and out of our comfort zone, we build our self-esteem. Someone said that you build self-esteem like you build muscles, day by day and work-out by work-out.

[genuine]

Thanks to all of you for responding ... and with such kind words and helpful insights. You are wonderful.

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

I know I don't have a magic button to push and "fix" your self-worth issues, but I CAN tell you how much your giving means, and how much we appreciate your contribution to this community. Every day I go through and read new profiles, new blog posts, etc... and I see how much support and affirmation you offer to people here every day. You leave comments and words of encouragement for others, and that's a HUGE gift - one I am personally grateful for, and I'm sure that those who receive them are very grateful as well.

And they, too, are "GREAT things!"

[Mary]

Dear genuine,
Once upon a time, I was trying to find a certain "inspirational" story I used to read when my kids were young. It always picked me up when I needed a lift! I couldn't find it, which led me to reading many books on my quest to fine ONE story ~ I found many. I was so moved by the many, many encouraging findings, that I decided to place them in "love journals" I created so I wouldn't misplace or forget what really helps me or can help me anytime I open them up! I place photo's, stories, poems, people's "thank you cards", stories from magazine articles that are meaningful... anything I can tape in my love journals that help me , go into them! And I will tell you, they have helped me tremendously filling me with joy, hope, life and the depth of happiness I feel being alive. I also create these love journals for others so they can fill them with things that matter in their lives and always remember who they are and what they mean to themselves and others.
I wish you all the happiness you can find, and hope you start "collecting" your happiness and basking in its sunshine whenever you want to.

[mbali- 29Gifts Spiritual Advisor]

Greetings everyone

I have been wanting to respond to this for few days < I will address it in a post on the 19th of March .....hope you can read it

Love Mbali