076 -50 Mindful Steps to Improved Self-Esteem




Counselor Toolbox Podcast show

Summary: <p>50 Mindful Steps to Self-Esteem<br> Presented by: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes<br> Executive Director, AllCEUs</p> <p>CEs can be earned for this presentation at <a href="https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/587/c/"><strong>https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/587/c/</strong></a></p> <p>Objectives<br> ~    Understand what self esteem is, why it is important and how to develop it<br> ~    Explore how physical sensations give clues to what is important and whether you are living in harmony with our values (Gut)<br> ~    Identify and address thinking errors that keep you stuck (Head)<br> ~    Evaluate how emotions and the heart contribute to the development of self-esteem (Heart)<br> ~    Examine how the environment impacts your self-esteem</p> <p>The Nature of Self-Esteem<br> ~    How you feel about yourself in contrast to who you think you “should” be<br> ~    The more rejecting you are of yourself, the more<br> ~    Distress you experience<br> ~    You seek external validation<br> ~    In order to develop healthy relationships you need to<br> ~    Feel good about yourself<br> ~    Get in touch with yourself and your true values<br> ~    Choose actions in harmony with your true self</p> <p>The Gift of Mindfulness<br> ~    Teaches people to live in the moment<br> ~    Not stuck in guilt or resentment of the past<br> ~    Not paralyzed by fear of the future<br> ~    Putting one foot in front of the other<br> ~    Cornerstone of mindfulness is acceptance<br> ~    Nonjudgmental<br> ~    Letting be<br> ~    Patient<br> ~    Mindfulness teaches that when you trust yourself and act with awareness and purpose you become more self reliant</p> <p>Note: The book will give you access to online, recorded versions of several meditations</p> <p>Impact of Mindlessness<br> ~    Ignoring or invalidating how you feel<br> ~    Failing to integrate feelings, thoughts, sensations and urges<br> ~    Running on autopilot and not making time for the things that are important (getting us closer to our ideal selves)<br> ~    Blindly adopting mainstream messages of who/what we should be<br> ~    Not in harmony with who we really want to be<br> ~    Not achievable or realistic<br> Breathing and the Body<br> ~    By developing mindfulness and self-awareness you can quiet your thoughts<br> ~    The constant noise often prohibits from addressing the underlying issues of your emotional turmoil<br> ~    Life becomes focused on treading water<br> ~    Forward goals are exchanged for just surviving<br> ~    By making contact with the present moment you can:<br> ~    Find your strength<br> ~    Learn to grow<br> ~    Choose how you wish to respond<br> Activities<br> ~    A Deep Full Breath<br> ~    Abdominal breathing signals the brain to slow down and relax. “Rest and digest”<br> ~    Simply paying attention to your breath often causes it to slow down<br> ~    Feel the loving touch (Your Breath)<br> ~    Life begins and ends with breath<br> ~    Breathing helps relax the body and move Qi<br> ~    Add visual and auditory breathing reminders<br> Activities cont…<br> ~    In and Out<br> ~    Inhale and take in positive affirmations<br> ~    Exhale and let go of stress and negativity<br> ~    Taken another step further, imagine inhaling cooling/calming blue air and exhaling stresses (red, black, gray)<br> ~    Read the Inscription<br> ~    Pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you (Lenny)<br> ~    Practice noticing points of tension/tightness/heaviness and feel them relax or loosen as you exhale<br> Thinking and the Mind<br> ~    An Impartial Witness (Fly on the wall)<br> ~    Stop Sorting (into good and bad)<br> ~    See the Whole Elephant<br> ~    The issue<br> ~    The strengths<br> ~    Spin the Wheel of Paradox<br> ~    Work<br> ~    Traffic<br> ~    No Blame<br> Emotions and the Heart<br> ~</p>