Do you feel good about yourself?

[pta-mom]

Well, I had a crappy childhood that ran from various foster homes, adoption into a family that abused me, more foster homes, various forms of abuse from various people...really, really bad stuff!! And you know what? Predictibly, I grew up to be a very insecure, hurting young adult lady with a death wish who found herself in various abusive relationships until one day, I woke up & said...."I could not help what happened to me as a child, but I can help myself now!"....& I did!

It wasn't easy & I've gone through various time's in my life that I've needed some help (aka: councilling) but I'm ok! In four months I'm going to be 40 years old...I'm a little over weight, a few wrinkles, a few grey hairs....but I really like who I've become! I've learned that feeling good about myself is not contingent on how much I weigh or how happy my man makes me or about any number of external circumstances but rather about a state of mind! I have the choice to feel good about me & I do!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

I think I have a pretty good amount of self-esteem, tempered with some relaism so as to not be annoying!

Overall, I consider my self intelligent. In the area of intelligence, I have strengths and weaknesses. I am better at "Language Arts" (known as English when I was a kid! ) than I am at Math. I am average in looks, friendly in personilty, stuboorn and extremely annoying at times, I am sure. I try to be kind, but am not always.

I think as one gets older one develops more confidence and less care about what others think. I know I did.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I'm in the middle somewhere..I was the ugly kid who got picked on in school..I never knew the right things to say or the right thing to wear... I grew up with very low self-esteem..I decided to do something about it. enlisting in the Marines brought me confidence.. I've done some bigtime good things for people over the years and I think I've handled some really bad situations pretty well..Physically,though I'd love to lose 15 pounds,I feel like I have looked my best in my 30's.. I think I'm pretty smart and have raised good kids...DO I feel good about myself..I'm getting there.

 

[JimVL]

about myself until I saw the newest post author in the, I guess the table of contents. JennyinRI, I stole part of your siggie from just over a year ago; Is that okay? Other than that I feel good about myself.

 

[jimmalru80]

No, I don't.

 

[JimVL]

I just edited my signature.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

I am feeling terriable this week. I had to quit my pt job =( b/c nothing was working out while I was there. I need to lose 30 lbs. DD has had trouble making friends and I am out of good advice. I just feel very blah latley

 

[Conservative Hippie]

I would have said no a few weeks ago. Like JVL1018 said, my self-confidence is 100% wrapped up in my weight. But now that I am pregnant, I feel like even though I could stand to lose a few lbs, it's ok, and I am very proud of the fact that I lead a very healthy lifestyle so I don't have any bad habits to break. So right now I feel pretty good about myself!

 

[kennancat]

I too feel like I have been incredibly lucky. The other day - I just thought "Beth, you have lived a charmed life." And most of that can be attributed to my DH and my wonderful parents.

But again, RIGHT NOW, I don't feel as if I deserve the good that I have had...

I answered yes to the poll, but I too go through periods where I feel guilty about how blessed I have been. I have a husband who is such a perfect match for me, loving and supportive parents, a well-paying job, nice house, etc. and I sometimes wonder what the heck I did to deserve it. I wonder how I would have turned out if I hadn't had parents who encouraged me and ended up with a brain that was well suited for our educational system. I've come to the conclusion that if you look for the good things in your life and make it your goal to enjoy them, you'll be happy. On the other hand, I think if you look for the bad things in your life, you'll be unhappy no matter how good your life really is. Everyone has things that aren't perfect in themselves or their lives; it's just part of the human experience.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Sometimes I feel good, other days not so much. I have issues with being so tiny. I know some people would tell me to shut up and not complain, but I'm built like a 12 year old, and people feel free to make comments all the time about how little I am, and I've become really self conscious about it. I thought having a BA would help, and it has, but I still have self-esteem issues. I hate a lot of things about myself, and not just physically. I have a hard time socially, making friends and fitting into groups. I get nervous around people, and I always worry about what people think. I'm just weird!

 

[cryssi]

I felt really good about myself in my mid-20's. I had a pretty low self-image of myself up until then. One day, I had an epiphany...I'm really ok! I'm happy with my body image! I like me!

I'm 31 now, and feel like I look like I've aged 5 years in the last year. I hate all the photos of me now! It's really upsetting to me, I used to be able to take a decent pic. Anyway, I haven't really exercised since my wedding, so I have squishy bits. I won't say I'm fat b/c I really don't think I am, but I'm a little concerned since we're doing the cruise this summer (see ticker!)...Some days I feel chubbier than others...

Of course, that didn't stop me from eating cake last night and McDonald's for breakfast this morning, so really, I have no one to blame but myself...

 

[Darth Cupcake]

No.
I hate myself
I hate how I look
I hate where I am in life
and I hate that I have allowed myself to fall in love with someone who has made it crystal clear they just want to be friends. The one decent guy in my life and he just wants to be friends.

Not to minimize your pain but you are not alone. I think most of us have been there at some time in our lives. I often say it is always darkest before the dawn. I hope that you will soon find yourself in the sun again.

Do I feel good about myself? Not when it comes to making friends. It is very difficult for me. I'm more quiet and reserved and reaching out for playdates is very uncomfortable. I often feel that my girls are suffering because of my inability to connect. I've always said that it is near impossible to find a friend who can be truly giving in the relationship. But perhaps that is just an excuse and the problem is really me.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Yep, I feel good {insert James Brown here}

 

[miss missy]

Sometimes I feel good, other days not so much. I have issues with being so tiny. I know some people would tell me to shut up and not complain, but I'm built like a 12 year old, and people feel free to make comments all the time about how little I am, and I've become really self conscious about it. I thought having a BA would help, and it has, but I still have self-esteem issues. I hate a lot of things about myself, and not just physically. I have a hard time socially, making friends and fitting into groups. I get nervous around people, and I always worry about what people think. I'm just weird!

You are officially my friend!!! I am just like you! I feel the same way. Your my freind now OK?

 

[We Want The Redhead]

I have good days and bad days, but on the whole the answer is: Yes, I feel good about myself.

 

[NMAmy]

I've found it much easier to feel good about myself the older I've gotten. I just don't really care what others think anymore. I've been through some tough times when I thought I was a failure but I've made it through all of them and come out a better, stronger person. And knowing I've made it through rough times gives me the strength to know that, yes, I can continue to grow and learn. I know I can do just about anything if I need to--there's no reason for me to be scared.

I find it really sad that so many posters seem to base their self-worth on weight and the way they look. Looking back on my younger days, I can objectively realize that I looked great. What the heck was I thinking? I also have learned that I'm going downhill lookswise from here on out so I'd better work on the inside of me now.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Right now I'm feeling horrible.
I hope each day gets better.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

You are officially my friend!!! I am just like you! I feel the same way. Your my freind now OK?

Us kooky people have to stick together!

 

[TDC Nala]

Never have, probably never will.

 

[agnes!]

These days?...No. Not really. Usually things are just kind of ok, but mostly not.

About weight & body-image...here is a saying I've seen around:
"What we hate about our bodies in our 20s we're nostalgic for in our 40s."

agnes!