by Taria Renee of Regal Realness
Self-esteem can be a powerful thing or it can be a killer. It kills spirits, souls, and dreams! Shoot if we’re not careful it could take lives. There are many women walking around with smiles on their faces that are secretly hurting on the inside. Low self-esteem creeps up on us. It happens to the best of us. No one is safe from it. But, the quicker you can recognize you are a victim of it, the quicker you can be a survivor. You’ll soon become a Bauce woman who is both fly and fierce — who has high self-esteem and is living the life of her dreams. Here are seven warning signs of low-self esteem:
1. You let people take advantage you.
If you are constantly doing for others but never take anytime out for yourself, this is a problem. People who take, take, take and never give in return continue to damage your self-worth. They make you feel like you are nothing.
2. You constantly think negative thoughts.
You don’t believe good things are on the way. You expect that this is just how life is going to be. You refuse to believe that your thoughts create your life. “Thoughts become things so choose the good ones,” is a saying you rarely listen to when you hear it.
3. You always feel depressed or like you are failing at life.
Most of the time you feel down and out. If you suspect you are depressed then this would be the best time to seek counseling, life coaching, or to talk with a friend. Depression is a serious matter that many remain quiet about in communities of color. Get help now so you don’t have to suffer later.
4. You expect your man or a man to make you happy.
A man cannot and will not make you happy. He will not complete you either. There I said it—BOOM! Only YOU can make yourself happy and whole. A man will complete you if you find the RIGHT one.
5. You jump from relationship to relationship or friendship.
Jumping from man to man or even different friends constantly does not provide stability nor does jumping around solve any of your problems. You need to get still with yourself and reflect on what it is you truly want in a man and in friendships with girls and guys. Then find the man and your core group of friends who will be loyal, loving, and supportive to you.
6. You are self-conscious about your body daily.
If you don’t like your body then you don’t like yourself. Constantly thinking you are fat and ugly will not make life happier or easier anytime soon. Your body must be embraced in order for you to gain confidence in yourself.
7. You help others build their dreams but not your own.
You are always working on someone’s dreams (projects, parties, organizations, business deals, etc.), but never are working on accomplishing your own dreams. We each were given a dream. You can help others build theirs for a short while, but eventually you need to create a plan to go get yours and make it a dream come true!
If you want to be a Bauce you have to overcome this notion that you are less than or that you can’t be all you were meant to be. Staying on top of your ish means you recognize your faults, accept them, and love and embrace yourself from this point on. Free yourself from low self-esteem. Become liberated. Become a bauce!
