Approval & self-esteem

Earlier this week, a dear friend and I were discussing the need so many of us women have for approval and for love. We want to be liked. We want to be loved. We don't want to experience rejection. We don't like to be shunned.

There is nothing wrong with such needs. It's all a matter of balance, however, isn't it? It's a matter of staying grounded in our own authenticity and integrity. We want to be sure to keep our boundaries clear as to what behavior and words we'll accept (and not accept) from those around us. We don't need to bend over backward and lose ourselves in order to be loved and receive approval.

So it's really essential that we love ourselves and that we have self-compassion and a good sense of self-esteem. That's not always something about which we learned as we grew up, though. But here's the good news: It's never too late to learn those things. And as we're learning to better care for and love ourselves, we really need support and encouragement from each other. We can't do this alone.

If this is an area where you need some help and a part of your life you want to change, please contact me for a complimentary coaching strategy session. Let's see what you might do to find that balance for yourself.