Monday, June 29, 2009

Life Satisfaction and Self Esteem

by Karl Perera

Running two websites about self esteem and depression I get many emails from visitors who ask me questions relating to happiness, self esteem and general life satisfaction. This article is my attempt to answer some of the most common problems that come up.

Are you satisfied with your life?

If you feel you have purpose in your life and what you do everyday gives you satisfaction then you are lucky. Do you feel something is missing from your life and your potential is unfulfilled? Chances are there are many things which cause you to feel less than satisfied with where you are now.

If you stop to think for a moment I bet you could list many things which make you feel less than satisfied with your life but this is a question of your attitude. Everyone could make such a list and the result would be a negative feeling and unhappiness. If you approach your life looking at it from what is missing or what could be better then you will be unhappy and dissatisfied.

What will give you life satisfaction?

Life satisfaction does not come from money nor material things. It comes from what you do and how you use what you have. It comes from a positive view of what is right in your life now. Of course, things can always be improved but you should try to enjoy your achievements so far. If you always look to solving problems you will never be satisfied until everything is how you want it to be and that will never happen.

Only you can truly answer the question "what will make you satisfied with your life?". However, most people have basic needs which make them satisfied.

Some of these needs are:

  • Friends
  • Successful relationships
  • Family (provides a sense of identity and belonging)
  • Feeling that you are needed and loved
  • Purpose in life (a difficult one but so important)
  • Having choices and options
  • Having achievable goals
  • Doing what you enjoy
  • Having the possibility to express yourself creatively and emotionally
  • Feeling that you have value (this is your self esteem)
  • Being understood and accepted for who you are

How can you become more satisfied with your life?

My list above shows that these things have no link to money, they depend on you and your attitudes and feelings about who and what you are. In order to be more satisfied with your life you need to:
  • be focused on what you want
  • learn to say no and be more assertive
  • be less self critical
  • end negative thoughts
  • use self hypnosis to help you unleash the power of your mind
  • concentrate on what you have now and what is good
  • plan to take small steps to achieve what you want and reward yourself on each completed step

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