How Does Low Self-Esteem Really Affect You?

Low Self-Esteem is a real problem…

Let’s first start off with the definition of low self-esteem from Webster dictionary.
A thinking disorder in which someone views themselves as inadequate, unlovable, and incompetent. Low self-esteem can affect every thought producing self defeating behavior and negative thoughts”.

Some Statistics on what may happen if someone were to have low self-esteem:

1.     Low self-esteem is more likely than any other factor to result in teenage pregnancy.
2.     75% of girls with low self-esteem have reported engaging in negative activities; cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating.
3.     By the age of 15 girls are twice as likely to become depressed than boys.
4.     42% of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders want to lose weight.
5.     In high school, 44% of girls and 15% of boys are attempting to lose weight.
7.     Girls ages 8-12 are more worried about being teased and made fun of than they are about being attacked with a weapon or being kidnapped.
8.     Girls ages 10-12 (tweens) are confronted with “teen” issues, such as dating and sex, at increasingly earlier ages. Among 8 years through 12 year old, 73% dress like teens and talk like teens.

Reading these statistics really opened my eyes and I realized how serious this topic really is among young people. Instead of looking at all the negative media, friends, and even in some cases what our families have to say about us, why not choose to hear what God says about each and every one of us.

God has made every single person “fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalm 139 :14)

I challenge you to read the entire passage in Psalm 139.  It explains that God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is always there especially when you need Him most and even when you don’t expect it.

In Jeremiah 29:11-13, God says “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and future. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” God wants to be able to give you everything you need and He can very well do that if you search wholeheartedly.

Ephesians 1:7 says, “I am forgiven of all my sins and washed in the blood,” Psalm 103:12 also says, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west” and lastly Micah 7:19 says, “Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!”

These three verses are so powerful when you read them.

You may be asking how do the last three verses tie into self-esteem, well to answer that, the key to not having low self-esteem is to take control of your mind.  You can never stop people from saying something negative so, how are you supposed to handle it?  You need to be able to control your mind and your thoughts and the only way to do that, is to CONSTANTLY  remind yourself about how God feels about you.  We MUST make positive changes in our actions and in our behavior so that God can begin to help you see the positive and not just focus on the negative that usually surrounds our lives.  The tricky part is learning how to give everything to God and leave it in his hands.

He says in Romans 12:2, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

From my personal experience I struggled with low self-esteem for years and it isn’t until recently, and I mean less than a full year, that I gave everything to God. No, it didn’t go away from just one prayer it takes time and effort. You have to begin a relationship with Him and when you begin to do so you will see just how wonderful He is. God will open your eyes to see how He sees you. God will begin to speak to you in ways that will blow your mind. You just have to have a sincere willingness in your heart.

Once you begin to control your mind by feeding it positive thoughts and by reading about what God thinks of you, I challenge you to  encourage others to do the same.  Low self-esteem and how it affects so many people has become a serious problem that can be fixed if we are willing to force change in our own lives.

Yours Truly,

SRO Camper & Camp Counselor (KA)

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