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(revised edition 2008)
Rate yourself on each with a scale of 0 to 4 based upon your
current thoughts, feelings, and behaviors:
0 = I never think, feel, or behave this way.
1 = I do less than half the time.
2 = I do 50% of the time.
3 = I do more than half the time.
4 = I always think, feel, or behave this way.
_____1. I like and accept myself as I am right now, today,
even as I grow and evolve.
_____2. I am worthy simply for who I am, not what I do. I do
not have to earn my worthiness.
_____3. I get my needs met before meeting the wants of
others. I balance my needs with those of my partner and family.
_____4. I easily release negative feelings from other’s
judgments and focus instead on living my life with integrity and
to the best of my abilities.
_____5. I always tell myself the truth about what I am
feeling.
_____6. I am incomparable and stop comparing myself with
other people.
_____7. I feel of equal value to other people, regardless of
my performance, looks, IQ,
achievements, or possessions.
_____8. I am my own authority. I make decisions with the
intention of furthering my own and others’ best interests.
_____9. I learn and grow from my mistakes rather than deny
them or use them to confirm
my unworthiness.
____10. I stop my critical self-talk and replace it with a
nurturing, kind, encouraging voice.
____11. I love, respect, and honor myself.
____12. I am not responsible for anyone else’s actions,
needs, choices, thoughts, moods, or feelings, only for my own.
____13. I do not dominate others or allow others to dominate
me.
____14. I have good physical and emotional boundaries with
others.
____15. I feel my own feelings and think my own thoughts,
even when those around me
think or feel differently.
____16. I stop using "shoulds" and
"oughts," which are value judgments that put me or
another down. (It is irrelevant what I should have done or
should do. It is more
important to know what I am willing to do and not do.)
____17. I am responsible for changing what I do not like in
my life. I face my problems,
fears, and insecurities and take appropriate steps to heal
and grow.
____18. I am a person of my word and follow through on the
things I commit to do.
____19. I forgive myself and others for making mistakes and
being unaware.
____20. I believe my life counts. I find meaning and have
purpose in my life.
____21. I deserve love and happiness even when others blame
or criticize me, for I cannot control what others think about
me.
____22. I take care of myself on all levels: physical,
social, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
____23. I spend quality time with myself on a regular basis.
____24. I release unreal expectations for myself and others.
____25. I choose to love and respect all human beings
regardless of their beliefs and actions; some I have a personal
relationship with and most I do not.
How to Use This Information
The Self-Esteem Awareness Inventory is not a test
or a precise measure of self-esteem. Instead, it identifies
beliefs, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to your
self-esteem. The 25 statements can be used to update beliefs
that have limited your self-esteem. Use the statements as
affirmations, positive statements, to change and improve how you
talk to yourself. Repeat the statements to yourself often,
emphasizing your low scoring answers. Over time improving your
self-talk will help change old, outdated beliefs that keep you
stuck in low self-esteem.
It is unwise to compare your answers with anyone else’s,
that is, unless sharing opens healthy discussion between the two
of you.
Save your answers and date it. Answer the questions again
every few months to notice your progress and the areas you still
need to emphasize.
Another idea is to write your low-scoring statements on 3x5
cards. Read them out loud to yourself daily. Tape them in places
you will see often: refrigerator, desk drawer, bathroom mirror,
your purse or wallet. You will see growth and improvement as you
work on your lower scoring areas. Be mindful of not judging the
speed of your progress. Grow and expand your awareness at your
own rate.
If many of your answers are low, you will notice quick
improvement by working with these 25 statements and applying the
information in this book. All of the parts of you are
interdependent so a gain in one area strengthens your entire
self.
A side benefit in working with the inventory is to notice
where other people have self-esteem issues. You can grow in
compassion as you learn to identify when another is struggling
with self-esteem issues. This makes it a little easier to
forgive negative attitudes and behaviors in others as well.
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