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Archive for Self-Esteem

Change Your Life Today: No Cost Ways to Uplevel Your Life

By Nina East · Comments (0)
Monday, February 7th, 2011

Put your money away. There’s no need to shell out a dime to change your life today. The smallest changes with a nonexistent price tag can increase your happiness tenfold and result in an increased quality of life immediately.

Try these suggestions to change your life today – no strings attached:

1.    Start a blog. It may seem silly, but blogging has changed thousands of lives. Blogging provides you with a platform to be heard and admired, while you make new friends. On your blog, all of your thoughts are heard. Create a blog today by using our sister site BasicBlogSetup.com, or by using one of the many free services available online such as WordPress.com.

•    Snag a theme for your blog that suits your personality. I recommend the themes at iThemes.com, especially Builder, (that’s the theme I use for PersonalGrowthPrincess.com0> I like Builder best because it is the most flexible and you can make it look virtually any way you want, without having to know any special web design skills.

•    Blog about your hobby. Cooking, crafting, decorating, and fashion are all hobbies with a large blogging community. In addition, racing, fantasy football, and self-development are also equally popular in the blogging world.

•    The easiest way to enrich your blog is to add photos. Add photos of your daily life or your hobbies. However, blur out all personal information (e.g. house number in the background of a photo) in pictures to protect your privacy.

2.    Make the cut. Change your life in a matter of minutes by simply removing negative influences from your life. Those who bring negativity into your life, cause harm to you or your family, or make you feel uneasy should be chopped from your mental priority list immediately.

•    Life is too short to wait around for unmotivated people to change their character. Some people only intend to channel negative energy. Keeping them around will only make the burdens, worries, and sadness in your life heavier.  That doesn’t mean you are better than them or should look down on them. Rather, just remove the influence from your life.

•    Choose on a case-by-case basis the best approach to take with each person. Some may benefit from hearing the truth and may hopefully realize your point of view. Others will simply be too stubborn to cooperate. The only person you can control is you. You may have to remove them from your life.

3.    Tend to your health. Maintaining a healthy weight makes you less susceptible to a myriad of health issues. You’ll also look good, feel good, and increase your confidence by maintaining a healthy weight. Start changing your body today by becoming more active.

•    Do it now. Why wait until tomorrow? Changing your life starts with this one simple step. Therefore, refrain from depriving your health the benefits of leading an active lifestyle any longer.

•    Dust off your old shorts and walking shoes and go for a brisk walk around the park. Even if you haven’t been active for quite a long time, a brisk walk is gentle enough, yet potent enough, to make a difference in your weight if followed regularly.

•    Get into the outdoors. It’s far more inspiring and rejuvenating to exercise in the great outdoors when compared to staring at the blank grey walls of a crowded gym.

As you can see, changing your life can require an action as simple as creating an account with WordPress.com or going for a walk in the park. The one thing required in all of the tips mentioned above is consistency.

If you simply start a blog, tell a friend that you’re parting ways, or exercise without any real consistency, you won’t experience a significant change. Start changing your life today and remain consistent for lasting results. If you want it, chase it; taking the first step can change your life forever!

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Categories : Goals, Happiness, Self-Esteem

Discovering Your Self-Worth – despite the circumstances

By Nina East · Comments (0)
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

Does life seem to be a struggle for you? Do you feel overwhelmed and frustrated much of the time? Do you wish you could experience something better? Fortunately, you can enjoy the exciting life you deserve…even when it seems like the world is against you.

Success is available to you despite challenging circumstances. It’s important to remember, also, that your self-worth is not defined by your circumstances.

What holds you back? Take some time today to question the beliefs you hold that limit your potential. If you look at a challenging circumstance as a wall that’s impossible to climb, you need a fresh perspective. Within you is everything you need to thrive and excel. The more you question the validity of your limiting beliefs, the more success you’ll experience in your life.

Think of a circumstance in your life that you believe is preventing you from something you want. Write it down, then get ready to challenge that limiting belief. If you do, you’ll begin to move toward the success you deserve.

Use these strategies to maintain a positive self-worth, regardless of your circumstances:

1.      Find the cause. What is the cause of the circumstance in your life? Sometimes, limiting beliefs can serve as warning signs that help you avoid danger. What can you learn from this so you avoid triggering a similar situation in the future?

  • If the cause of your situation is unclear, ask friends and family for their input. Others see your life from a different perspective, and their input can be valuable in determining the root of your difficulty.

2.      Get past the blame game. You can often be your own worst critic. Fortunately, negative self-talk often has very little basis in reality. Choose to replace the doubts of your inner critic with more productive thinking.

  • Once a negative thought has taught you its intended lesson, it has served its purpose. If you choose to hold onto those negative thoughts, they will begin to form a negative self-image in your mind. This unbalanced view of your talents and strengths holds you back.
  • Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts about your circumstances, learn the lesson and resolve to move on. Find out what you can do differently to avoid a repeat of your present situation. Then, when negative thoughts enter your mind, choose to replace your self-talk with productive thoughts instead. Read More→

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Categories : Confidence, Self-Esteem
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Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?

By Nina East · Comments (0)
Monday, October 18th, 2010

Do Princesses wear hiking boots?

You betcha!

This book is one in a series of girl-empowerment books by Carmela LaVigna Coyle, designed to let little girls know that yes, indeedy, princesses can do whatever they please, and that being a princess has nothing to do with outside trappings, but with inside feelings.  Feelings of goodness and worthiness, mind you – not entitlement, beauty or putting on airs.

hikingboots Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? Cole says she was inspired to write this book after her daughter asked her the title question.  It is written for pre-school level, so be prepared for the cute, whimsical rhyming. The text consists of a mother’s rhymed answers to her daughter’s questions about princesses, such as, “When princesses laugh, do they sometimes snort?  They have manners of every sort.”

What’s great about these stories is that they expand the idea of what it means to be completely and fully all of who you are – that self-esteem is based on accepting and loving you exactly as you are – the same message inherent in everything here at PersonalGrowthPrincess.com. Considering how many messages girls (and women) get about not being good enough, not being worthy, and, of course, that being pretty is what counts, this book is a wonderful counter-message.

Here’s a snippet from Carmela LaVigna Coyle’s biography:

“Hmmmm. An uncommon princess!? What’s that all about… well it’s about YOU!! And who you are on the inside. I wrote my first “published” book for my daughter Annie after she asked me the title question. “Do princesses wear hiking boots?” We were getting ready to go on a hike in the Rocky’s when she plopped down next to me wearing denim coveralls, a pink sparkling tutu, an old t-shirt, mismatching socks and a crown askew on her head. Before I could answer her question, she fired a second one; “Do princesses have to brush their teeth?” and then a third. (Can you believe it? Hand-fed a storybook title by a four-year-old? Happens all the time, I am told.) Quickly I discovered that she was trying to learn if she, herself, could possibly qualify as a princess.

The princess in my princess series climb trees, ride bikes-fast, plays soccer, dresses up (on occasion,) does chores, and loves to be outside in nature. Sound familiar? A princess doesn’t have to be fluffy and frilly to be the real deal… unless, of course, you like that sort of thing. Anything goes, my dears. “…A princess is a place in your heart.” And the best part? You decide what that is! Or not!”

I’m always drawn to these books, in part because of all the anti-princess messages I heard growing up (along with the “not yet worthy” ones), but also because of how they can impact grown women as well. Some members of Personal Growth Princess tell me that initially they were not drawn to the name of the program, because of the word “princess”, but once they read more about it and understood they were reacting from the negative conditioning they received as young girls, they jump on board. There’s something liberating about being able to think “princess” without thinking “wimpy”.

There are other books in the series, which seems to have become a runaway hit: Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs? and Do Princesses Scrape Their Knees? and other titles.  The rumors are the latest book in the series, Do Princesses Have Best Friends Forever?, will be out near the end of the year.

What messages did you receive about who you were as a child? And was it OK to be interested in princesses? Could you kick butt and be girly?

Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

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Categories : 5-Minute Book Reviews, Princess Stories, Self-Esteem
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What is your personal passion signature?

By Nina East · Comments (2)
Thursday, October 14th, 2010

Do you know what your personal archetype is? Your personal passion signature?

According to Donna LeBlanc, author of The Passion Principle: Discover Your Personal Passion Signature and the Secrets to Deeper Relationshps in Love, Life and Work, there are 5 distinct ways we deal with our fears, tap into our passions and strengths, and relate to others.

Your passion signature is the way you express your passion and seek fulfillment. When you know your passion signature – along with the pitfalls that accompany them – you no longer react to the world around you, but instead are able to respond from a place of strength, a place of passion. Your self-esteem and your confidence increase because your are operating from your natural passion.

The five passion signatures LeBlanc describes are:PPcover What is your personal passion signature?

The Visionary

  • motivated by excellence
  • optimistic
  • born leader
  • wants to make the world a better place

The Warrior

  • thrives in leadership roles
  • enjoy leading people out of struggle
  • has a big heart, though it may be hidden
  • loads of integrity

The Lover

  • thrives in 1-1 relationships
  • great nurturer
  • loves to learn about other people and their lives

The Creator

  • great problem solver and negotiator
  • can see all sides of an issue
  • helps people find common ground and understanding

The Prophet

  • spiritual teacher
  • have new knowledge to share with the world
  • have psychic abilities, though may not have recognized them yet

Each signature, or archetype, also has what might be considered a shadow side – the way you behave when you are at your worst, in the throes of fear and reaction.

If you’re the Visionary, Read More→

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Categories : Confidence, Self-Esteem
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How Your Authentic Archetype Helps You Navigate Self Doubt So That You Are Free to Embody Your Brilliance…

By Nina East · Comments (0)
Friday, September 17th, 2010

Self Care Mastery presents an Interview with Nina East

NinaNewsletterPink How Your Authentic Archetype Helps You Navigate Self Doubt So That You Are Free to Embody Your Brilliance…I’m thrilled to announce I’ve been invited back to Self Care Mastery for another interview – this time on the topic of Self-Doubt.

We’re going to take a different approach than usual, incorporating the authentic archetypes (signature styles) from The Passion Principle by best-selling author Donna LeBlanc.

** The Passion Principle is the featured book summary this month! You can access additional resources by visiting the Member page.
You can also read a short description about the book and book summary on the announcements page.

Sign up to attend this free telesminar at Self Care Mastery!

Most books and articles on self-doubt spend 90% of the time describing what self-doubt is and 10% of the time giving suggestions for ways to deal with it.

The problem with most approaches to self-doubt is, at best they are inane, and at worst, they reinforce feelings of self-doubt. Most self-help material on self-doubt suggest strategies that deal focus on surface issues and willpower without going beneath the surface to what’s really going and identifying strategies and keys for growth specific to your signature style.

But don’t worry – we won’t stop there. We wouldn’t want to be guilty of the same 90%/10% problem! We’ll take a look at signature styles (archetypes) and how they influence us, as well as provide keys to growth that help reframe and transform self-doubt. We’ll also take a look at some of the latest scientific research on “positivity” – and what most people do that actually decreases their positivity and sense of well-being.

In this provocative (some might even say controversial) look at self-doubt, Nina East, certified coach and Founder of PersonalGrowthPrincess.com, will lead you in a realistic look at self-doubt and the state of the self-help industry’s ideas on how to overcome it.

Adela How Your Authentic Archetype Helps You Navigate Self Doubt So That You Are Free to Embody Your Brilliance…This teleclass/interview is hosted by Adela Rubio, a Conscious Business Mentor™ and Telesummit Producer/Host who helps conscious entrepreneurs authentically articulate their essential message and build a conscious business tribe. With five online telesummits under her belt, and more than 64 interviews with conscious business leaders, she is an expert at creating engaging and experiential online virtual events that position you as a thought leader while leveraging talent, time, and technology.

Sign up to attend this free telesminar at Self Care Mastery!

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Categories : Announcements, Self-Esteem
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Can a cookbook be a self-help book? [interview]

By Nina East · Comments (4)
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Seriously. Has anyone ever suggested to you that a cookbook could actually be a self-help book, too?

I had not heard it…until I met Deborah Nelson, author of From Rainy Days to Sexy Nights Cookbook: Simple and Inspirational Recipes to Fit Your Mood.DeborahNelson 199x300 Can a cookbook be a self help book? [interview]

Deborah is the spunky – fiery? – owner of SaucyWellness.com – with the tagline “healthy living one juicy bite at a time”. Her cookbook  is really about living a juicy life – savoring all aspects of your life – with a healthy eating twist.

Food affects everything – from self-esteem to happiness to your level of confidence.

Food creates the environment in your body – an environment of stress or an environment of peace. There are many other factors affecting stress, of course, but food is one that many of us turn to. Deborah’s goal is to help people turn to it in a way that serves their goals and soothes their souls, rather than a short term relief that creates longer-term challenges.

The recipes are divided into 4 categories: Rainy Days, Summer Sensations, Heal Me, and Sexy Nights. In the interview below she explains what these categories mean and how to use the food we select to alter our mood. She says that “food creates who you are – you choose your mood in the moment by choosing your food.”

Below is an interview I conducted with Deborah a couple of weeks ago. She has also generously agreed to provide a set of 5 recipes to members of PersonalGrowthPrincess, as well as a free complimentary consultation session. If you want some support on how your eating habits affect your mood, energy levels, weight and also your libido, I encourage you to take her up on it right away! Info is available on the Members page. (Please note, this is an additional fabulous bonus – on top of your regular monthly bonus tools.)

Listen to the interview and get another free recipe

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Categories : Confidence, General Musings, Recommended Resources, Self-Esteem
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Self-Doubt – 2 Causes – 2 Solutions

By Nina East · Comments (3)
Friday, July 9th, 2010

There are two main elements influencing self-doubt. Fortunately there are also some simple ways to begin eroding your self-doubt and, consequently, build your self-esteem.

The frustrating paradox is that self-doubt actually creates unwavering certainty – certainty that you cannot do/say/be what you want, that you aren’t good enough, or that the risks far outweigh the possible gains.

bluequestionmark 150x150 Self Doubt 2 Causes 2 SolutionsThis is because of the nasty self-perpetuating cycle self-doubt creates. You doubt yourself in a particular area so you hold yourself back from doing/saying/being something. This in turn gives you evidence that you don’t “have what it takes”, which usually gets translated to “See? I’m not good enough”.

When asked about what affects or feeds their self-doubt, readers generally pointed to two things. Given the commitment to personal growth and self-improvement members and readers at PersonalGrowthPrincess.com have I wasn’t surprised at the insight. But because this seems to be a fairly universal issue, I also was not surprised that there were very few suggestions for what to do about it.

The first element feeding self-doubt is not trusting your inner guidance, your intuition. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say the problem is not knowing whether what you are experiencing is really inner guidance, or a fear or anxiety speaking.

We often “know” something but don’t trust that knowing. After all, how do you know when you know? This is usually a result of not practicing using this information, but can also come from trusting your intuition and ending up with negative consequences. That can magnify self-doubt.

The key distinction is that inner guidance always Read More→

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Categories : Confidence, Intuition, Self-Esteem
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Accepting Praise Gracefully – how it helps you…and the other person

By Nina East · Comments (0)
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

This post is provided by guest blogger, Allen Johnson, Ph.D.

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED how some people discount compliments?

“My, that’s a lovely dress you’re wearing today.”

“What, this old thing? I’ve had it for ages. I really should give it to Goodwill.”

After that you want to say, “Gee, I’m sorry; I guess you’re right. It does look a little tacky, now that you mention it. In fact, I bet you could search the world over and all the stars of the universe, and never in a billion, trillion years find a dress quite that tacky.”

Once in a speech class I conducted, I told a student that he had a beautiful speaking voice. “It has great depth and resonance,” I announced.

The student grimaced and looked at the floor. “Huh? Oh, yeah, I’ve got a cold,” he grunted.

“Wait a minute,” I said, launching into my lecture mode, “listen to yourself. You just discounted a perfectly good compliment. You denied yourself the pleasure of a little recognition, and at the same time gave me a kick in the teeth. That’s not good for either of us.”

When someone does receive a compliment gracefully, it can be bewitching. That’s how I felt speaking to a clerk in a ski shop in Vail, Colorado. When it came to beautiful eyes Read More→

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Categories : Self-Esteem
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Can Jealousy Raise Your Self-Esteem?

By Nina East · Comments (0)
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010

If you’re like most people in western culture, you’ve been taught that jealousy is a bad thing. You may have even been told that experiencing jealousy means you are a bad or ungrateful person, or that being jealous makes you weak or less spiritual. For most of us, when we experience jealousy, we try to eliminate it or prevent it from ever coming up. Given that jealousy is a natural emotion, this is a pretty futile effort. 2girls Can Jealousy Raise Your Self Esteem?

There is an important distinction that needs to be made in order to have a more helpful understanding of jealousy, one which can actually raise your self-esteem…

Jealousy is a mental uneasiness about something or someone, usually triggered by seeing or experiencing something you wish you had or wish you could do. It is an awareness of difference, and a wishing for something similar to be in your own life.

Jealousy has developed a negative connotation in part because of general cultural perspectives, but also because of the inappropriate behavior that sometimes follows. We tend to get emotion and behavior mixed up, but, jealousy, as a feeling, does not have to be negative. In fact, it can be quite positive and empowering if you look at it the right way.

Resentment, on the other hand, has a bite to it. It involves a sense of indignation, of having been wronged by the other person, and even the belief that when they have something you do not, whether it be a skill, a relationship, or a tangible item, that it has somehow made you “less than”.

Words, and therefore feelings, are defined by other words. How you define something gives it its meaning. The word “resentment” is often used to define jealousy, but that doesn’t have to be so.

If you were to choose to eliminate the word “resentment” from your definition, and experience, of jealousy, what might be different?

If you believe that you are “less than” someone who has what you do not yet have, or if you believe their having it reduces your chances of ever having it, then you are experiencing Resentment, not jealousy. Resentment has a definite self-esteem lowering quality. Not only do you feel bad about yourself because you don’t have what the other person does, you may even feel guilty for feeling resentment, setting off a downward spiral of lower self-esteem.

What if jealousy were just a signal to you about something more you want to be, do, or have? The actual person who triggered the jealous response is not as important as the desire it brings up in you. Jealousy can give you clarity about what you really want. It can help you define precisely what you want to create in your life or business. The more clear you are about what you want, the easier it is to take productive action – and one of the greatest self-esteem boosters is taking effective action.

If you believed this about jealousy, how much more gentle would you be with yourself? How much more understanding would you be of other people? How much more likely would you be to get into action because you have a “possibility” mentality versus a “lack” mentality? How much higher could you raise your self-esteem by defining jealousy in a positive way, rather than trying to eliminate it?

Leave a comment below – I’d love to know what you think!

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Categories : Mindfulness, Self-Esteem
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Princess Expectations: How to Raise Your Expectations of Yourself

By Nina East · Comments (2)
Friday, March 26th, 2010

ExpectationsSign Princess Expectations: How to Raise Your Expectations of YourselfHaving high expectations of yourself isn’t just about accomplishing more or achieving higher levels of success. Those are noble reasons, for sure. But perhaps even more important is that raising your expectations of yourself can bring you greater fulfillment.

Some might think that a woman who is vibrant and full of herself (as a Princess is naturally) would not have any issues about self-expectations. They might actually think her expectations are too high. In my decades of leading personal growth seminars I have found that sometimes it is the person who appears the most “together” and “accomplished” who needs some help dealing with her expectations of herself. She may look and be successful, but have some gaps in her levels of fulfillment.

You may remember that I personally named 2010 as The Year of Fulfillment. I did this in order to put Fulfillment front and center as the most important thing for me to focus on. (I invite you to do the same.)

Why am I focusing so much on fulfillment?

There are many things in this life we have no control over. Fortunately, fulfillment IS something we have control over. Fulfillment is a feeling, not a deed or action. And the great news is that you get to define what fulfillment means to you – your personal “conditions of satisfaction” for fulfillment.

The trick is to learn how to lead yourself to greater heights and deeper fulfillment without pushing yourself over the edge. Read More→

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Categories : General Musings, Self-Esteem
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