Feeling Better

OK, I’ve finished the self-esteem bits of the March 2001 issue. I’ll go back to the rest of the issue once I’m finished with my LO dilemma (competition from another blog….or self-perceived competition from another blog).

I have to say this issue has helped me a lot. Mostly with self-esteem, you have to learn how to be confident in who you are and what you do–it’s more important that you don’t sit around and try to measure up to others or let others dictate how you feel.

That said, it’s not easy to go from loving to get approval from everyone to doing your own thing, but it can be done. Just keep plugging away, and the accomplishments will help build you up.

The funny thing is that I can do a lot of stuff–dance, read music, play several instruments, play sports, etc., but I don’t really regard that as being special and making me worthy. I can just do those things. Doesn’t everyone know how? Apparently not. And discounting my accomplishments has helped me to not feel as worthy because I’m not doing something huge and world-changing with my life. No, I just need to keep doing what I’m doing and be good with what I can do.

I also need to know that there will be times when I’m just going to have a bad day, or I’m going to do something stupid. I should acknowledge those times and move on, rather than wallow in them, as I am wont to do. I think I’m better equipped now to handle the downturns though.

I pulled out this issue because I didn’t feel like I could compete with the Living Oprah site/project. But perhaps it’s not a competition at all. I know she exists, but I’ve got my separate thing going and I think it’s a pretty good project in and of itself. So what if she’s had radio interviews? That doesn’t mean her project is any better, nor does it mean my project is any worse. It just means that if I want more readers, I’m going to have to figure out how to publicize this site a little more. That’s all.

So how do I do that? Well, I think it’s time to look at the Success (September 2001) and Excellence (December 2003) issues and see if they have any good advice for me.