How can you help a client develop a positive self-image?

Here is a practice that will help identify the root cause of negative self image and negative self talk. "I AM" are the two most important words we have. Whatever we say after it is what we believe is true about ourselves. Belief forms with repetition of thoughts. By recognizing the pattern of negative thought's in real time interrupts the pattern and breaks the neural loop. Try snapping your fingers to acknowledge to yourself that you are recognizing the thought loop and interrupting the pattern. Ask yourself: - What emotion do I feel with this thought - When did I first begin thinking this thought - What am I in fear of? What is this thought protecting me from?

Helping clients to understand their old patterns and really breaking them apart and unpacking them. Its truly about unlearning our old ways of being that are not supporting us and replacing them with NEW positive ways of being that WILL empower and support us! It takes intentional practice and consistency—-creating a team and deep connection with our clients or mentees also is highly recommended and important! Our clients or mentees wins are also our wins and our results as a mentor or coach!

One of the ways to do this is to explore three aspects of self image: 1. How you perceive yourself? 2. How you interpret others perception? 3. How would you like your ideal self to be?

A core idea behind self-image is identity. One way to get to the root causes is: - List down all the roles you play in life - roles you've taken on voluntarily, or those society and others have endowed you with - List down your expectations of each role - Analyze those expectations - where did they come from? Whose voice is it? - Which roles and expectations give you strength and energy? Which of them drain you?

One thing I found helpful in my 13 years of Life and Leadership coaching career is that helping clients develop a positive self-image starts with 'understanding the root causes of negativity'. Dig deep into their past experiences, societal pressures, and personal beliefs. By addressing these underlying issues head-on, we can empower our clients to reshape their self-perception and unlock their full potential!

When helping my clients develop a positive self-image, we explore cognitive distortions and the ABC model (Antecedent, Behaviour, Consequence). We identify distorted thoughts and beliefs, challenging them with more balanced thinking. Simultaneously, addressing triggers for negative self-perceptions, encouraging healthier coping behaviours. We also tackle self-judgment and judgments of others, promoting empathy and self-compassion. This process guides my clients toward a more positive self-image and improved well-being.

Once we've identified where our negative beliefs stem from, it's useful to summarise our findings in a table with three columns. In the first column, list all the negative thoughts about ourselves. In the second column, briefly discuss the validity of those thoughts. Jot down where they came from and argue why they may not be valid. Finally, in the third column, write an opposite, positive belief about ourselves that represents the opposite of each belief listed in the first column. Keep this table at hand, and use the beliefs in the third column as positive affirmations on a day-to-day basis to rewire your brain around a more uplifting self-image.

Reframing negative thoughts is a powerful technique for fostering a more positive and constructive mindset. Instead of dwelling on self-doubt or criticism, work with clients to try shifting their perspective by reframing the thought. For example, instead of thinking, "I'm not good enough for this job," this can be reframed to "I have the skills and experience to excel in this role, and I'm constantly learning and growing." By encouraging clients to focus on their strengths and potential for growth, they can transform negative self-talk into a motivating and empowering affirmation that can boost confidence and self-belief.

Help clients to challenge and reframe negative thoughts. Encourage them and change the self talk language to self compassion and positive affirmations

Being self aware is the first towards reframing negative thoughts. Be aware when you think negatively. Analyse the situation which made you think so. Think from different angles and look for positivity in the whole thing. If your thought is "I am not good at anything". Reframe it as "I can learn from my mistakes" . Positive affirmations can help you achieve

People often have the tendency to focus on what they do poorly and not what they do well. Encourage your client to keep a success journal of 5 wins at the end of every day - it doesn't matter how small. This is a great way to develop the habit of looking for the positive. Another great exercise is to think back to all the times that you achieved something that you considered to be a success. You will be amazed at how much success you experienced that you might have not given yourself credit for. Building a positive self-image is all about creating positive thinking habits as well as giving yourself permission to feel successful.

Sometimes lack of positive self image comes from being uncertain who we are at the core. Helping a client identify their positive core values can be transformational. When your client knows what they deep-down value - what they affirmatively cherish, support, rejoice in, and/or would stand up stand for - their sense of self gets more powerful. This sense of coherence and self-worth doesn't rely on having particular strengths or accomplishments, but rather on simply "being" the person who holds these deep values. Next, build on that secure core by identifying what it looks like when they are honoring and expressing their values through their presence and actions. How do their values relate to the strengths others appreciate in them?

As a coach, I am witness and catalyst to my client's process and presence. By observing without judgement and offering reflections and affirmations of clients -- how they show up and the impact they want to make in the world -- they see themselves with new clarity. The trusting space of a coaching conversation as a mirror of a client's strengths and values is a beautiful step toward boosting self worth.

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. The later perspective will keep us happy and positive.

My clients have found it helpful when we explore how their strengths and their 'weaknesses', or negative beliefs, are sometimes two sides of the same coin. For example, if a client believed he lacked ambition (negative) we might talk about the other side of that coin: what positive aspects of his self he was constructing around that belief, and what positive 'side effects' it might give him - like a sense of contentment.

Gratitude is a great exercise and habit to develop. Building a positive self-image is all about shifting perspective. You already have all the evidence you need for a positive self-image, it's simply a case of becoming aware of it. When practicing gratitude, it can be a good idea to focus on things that you are grateful for about yourself. It might just be something like you completed a simple task. It's not the size that's important, it's that habit, and the change of focus. To facilitate a positive self-image you have to shift to the positive, and this is a great way to do it.

Identifying the root causes of our poor self-esteem (in Step 1) can be a catalyst for self-compassion. Once we understand how our younger selves' self-image may have been affected by traumatic experiences in our past, we may come to appreciate how resilient we actually are for everything that we endured in our earlier years. By coming to terms with the wounds of our inner child, we can begin to re-parent ourselves. Just like we would do with a child in our care, we would strive to be patient, kind, and understanding with ourselves. It may be helpful to write loving letters to our younger selves, meditate on how far we've actually come, or simply catch our negative self-talk on the spot and give our inner child a pep-talk.

Be gentle to yourself. Take time to appreciate self. Reward each achievement however small it may be. By cultivating this behaviour, people learn to understand one's capabilities and will develop self confidence. This will reduce their negative outlook

Understanding and accepting that everyone has lights and shadows, strengths and weaknesses, and that we are all a work in progress, is fundamental for self-acceptance. The "friend" exercise is a very helpful one: ask your client if they "talk" to themselves like they would do to their best friends...

Gratitude is an important aspect for every human being.A simple thank-you note or email can go a long way. Express your gratitude for their business and highlight specific reasons you appreciate working with them. Show that you value their opinion by seeking feedback on your products or services. Keep open lines of communication with your clients. Regularly check in with them, provide updates, and share relevant information to demonstrate your commitment to their success

When you celebrate the brain releases chemicals that make you feel good. The wins don't have to be big, what is important is that you start looking for them, and start celebrating them. This will make you feel good, and over time you will start to see yourself in a different light.

It can be helpful for a client to keep a folder (digital or otherwise) where they collect any positive feedback, testimonials, praise, and accolades they receive. Over time, they will create an album of positive endorsements that they can pull out and review whenever they need a boost to their ego!

Always celebrate successes, no matter how small. Learn from mistakes. When your client understands that everything they do moves them forward, they can embrace the process and enjoy celebrating the wins.

To develop a positive self-image in our clients: - Build Trust and Rapport. - Identify negative self-beliefs. - challenge and reframe those beliefs. - set achievable Goals. - promote positive affairments. - Teach self-soothing techniques like mindfulness or relaxation techniques. - Explore self-identity and values. - Address past traumatic experiences (if relevant) - encourage self-care practices. - provide ongoing support and appreciate the progress.

⭐️ “Achievement” and “success” can be loaded words, so if you have trouble celebrating your wins, consider redefining what these words mean to you today. Sometimes you’ve set the bar of success so high, that achieving it…let alone celebrating it once you do…feels miles away. Begin noticing your wins, big or small, and soon you’ll be opening up to greater ease in celebration and the positive momentum that comes with it. -Lena D. Meyer, Transformational Life Coach Transforming lives since 2008

We are all on a journey to remember who we really are. Other people's opinions can provide the contrast that makes us feel bad, which is a sign of non-alignment with who we really are as Love. The key is to transform the shadow consciousness that can trigger us into low frequency. Ultimately it's an inside job and we all need to commit to doing our inner work so that we're not dependent on others to feel good about ourselves. The affirmation I mentioned above will help you to remember your true nature whenever you get triggered by others' non-loving projections.

Because self-image is our internal assessment of ourselves and how we feel about who we are; Some ways I find useful are: to help your client replace the negative thoughts with more realistic and positive ones. Use cognitive behavioral techniques recording thoughts, doing affirmations.... Encourage the client to be compassionate to themselves, and also help them to know the difference between self-esteem and self worth Encourage the client to tap into their spirituality, who they were created to be. By doing this, you can help your client develop a more balanced and accurate self-image. Most important is that I must model it in the session. Empowerment is very important.

Promoting a culture of seeking support and feedback within the tech community is essential. Encouraging candidates to reach out for mentorship, join tech communities, or actively participate in industry events can provide them with invaluable insights and bolster their self-assurance.

Your community is SO important to keep moving forward! Having a coach/friend/mentor who you can talk with on a regular basis helps you stay balanced in your thinking. If you don't have someone who will take the time to listen and point out your flawed thinking, gives you food for thought, and recognizes your achievements even when you don't - FIND that person!

It's important to distinguish between self-image (the picture we have of ourselves) and the image we express, consciously or not, to others. I often ask my clients to write a list of adjectives which describe them, and then ask other people to describe them for a separate list. We then compare the two lists, to understand what the client sees vs what other people see. This in itself can be a powerful exercise to shift self-image.

Be an active listener When we meet our clients,we try to sell our products and services without understanding the client’s problem statement. Generally, we speak for 80% and allow our clients to speak for 20%. But, we should do exactly the opposite. We should allow our clients to speak their problems for 80% of the time and we should only speak for 20% of the time if we have a solution to offer. This would immensely help to create our image in front of clients.

I love these points. My clients go through a lot of fun challenges, one of them is called Mirror Magic. It works like magic for everyone who doesn't feel confident in their body. We do a 37 days mirror challenge, which helps them explore learn and love parts of themselves that they were not fond of, earlier.

In my experience as a Tech Recruiter, sharing success stories of candidates who overcame self-doubt or imposter syndrome and emerged victorious in their tech careers can be incredibly inspiring. These stories serve as real-life examples, showcasing that with determination, the right mindset, and the right support, anyone can develop a positive self-image and achieve their goals within the tech realm.

It's far more effective to focus on who you want to become vs. trying to avoid what you don't like. In other words, if you're not clear on what you define as a positive self-image, you will get derailed by your negative thoughts. Please imagine yourself how you want to show up. Do that daily and before important events. It doesn't have to take long. 30 seconds is plenty. Think of it as a rehearsal so that you are in a much better position to perform the way deep down in your heart you know you are fully capable of performing.