Self-Image: Friend or Foe

Sometimes we become our worst enemy by thinking and saying negative things about ourselves. Listening to your internal self-talk and the critical judgments you make about yourself is the first step to realizing that you are, and have been in the habit of validating and strengthening things that don’t benefit you. In fact they harm you and have been penalizing you from being blessed.

Being aware of self-criticisms can help you determine your current self-image and decide if it needs to be improved. I'll give you a hint—it does!

Do you start your morning thinking things like, “Thank you Jesus for another day. I can’t wait to get going and be a blessing as I accomplish something rewarding and fulfilling today.” Or upon awakening do you berate yourself for not being able to overcome the sheet monster, and tell yourself something like, “Oh crap, here we go again. Don’t be such a lazy slob; force yourself to get up and get back into the battle. Another day, another dollar.”

Our internal voice either builds up or tears down our self-image. At the same time, our self-image motivates and regulates our internal voice. If you have a good self-image, that is, think of yourself the right way, in a positive light as God intends, your internal voice will build you up. If you think of yourself improperly, in a negative way as the devil intends, your internal voice will continually try to tear you down.

God gives us the solution but it’s up to us to apply it.

“Don’t be drunk with wine in excess; but be filled with the Spirit; by speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18-19).

Flip the script and complement yourself instead of tearing yourself down.