What is Self-concept?
Who am I? What makes me "me?"
You might answer with "I'm a mother," or "I'm a teacher," or maybe, "I'm a believer," "I'm a great friend," or "I'm a sister."
Maybe you answer with, "I am amazing at my job," "I am a successful writer," or "I am a wealthy business man."
Other responses might fall into the category of traits: "I am a kind-hearted person," "I'm intelligent and hard-working," or "I'm laid-back and easy-going."
These responses come from your internal sense of who you are.
This internal sense is developed early in life but goes through constant evaluation and adjustment throughout the lifespan.
For example, a person with a positive self-concept may view themselves as capable, worthy, and confident, which may lead to positive emotions, behaviors, and relationships. On the other hand, a person with a negative self-concept may view themselves as inadequate, inferior, or unworthy, which may lead to negative emotions, behaviors, and relationships.
Self-concept is an overarching idea about who we believe we are—physically, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and in any other terms that make up who we are.
It refers to an individual's overall perception and understanding of themselves, including their beliefs, attitudes, abilities, values, personality traits, and other qualities. It is a complex and multifaceted construct that evolves over time and is shaped by a range of factors, including personal experiences, social interactions, and cultural norms.
Self-concept is a multidimensional construct that can be broken down into various components, such as self-image (the mental picture that an individual holds of themselves), self-efficacy (the belief in one's ability to achieve goals and perform tasks), self-esteem (an individual's subjective feelings of self-worth or self-value), and self-awareness ( an individual's ability to introspectively observe and recognize their own thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and behaviors).
Overall, self-concept is a crucial aspect of an individual's psychological well-being, as it affects their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and overall life.
How to change your self-concept into the best version of you?
Improving one's self-concept involves a combination of self-reflection, self-awareness, and intentional efforts to challenge negative self-beliefs and cultivate new positive ones. Now, if you're looking to improve your self-concept, here are some things you can do to reprogram your mind:
- Identify negative beliefs: Recognize and acknowledge negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself. For example, if you tend to think negatively about your appearance, abilities, or self-worth, acknowledge these beliefs and their impact on your self-concept.
- Challenge negative self-beliefs: Once you've identified negative self-beliefs, challenge them by asking yourself if these beliefs are based on beliefs that you've adopted through a bad experience or simply assumptions through your upbringing. Ask yourself if these beliefs are helpful or harmful to you.
- Reframe negative self-beliefs: Reframe negative self-beliefs into positive affirmations. For example, instead of saying, "I'm not good enough," say, "I am capable and deserving." This exercise will help to shift your mindset from a negative to a positive one.
- Practice self-compassion: Treat yourself with the kindness and compassion. This act can help to improve your self-worth and self-esteem. Understand that there is power in the "I am," so when you speak, always speak positively.
- Focus on strengths: Focus on your strengths and positive qualities. Identify what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small or great they are.
- Practice gratitude: When you feel gratitude about this new self-awareness and desire to create the best version of yourself, you put yourself in a high positive frequency.
Remember that fixing your self-concept is a process that takes time and effort. Be patient and persistent, and approach yourself with kindness and compassion. With time and practice, you can improve your self-concept and cultivate a positive and healthy sense of self.
