Being highly sensitive can be a beneficial trait in many ways, such as enhancing creative expression and leading us toward making more cautiously considered evaluations and decisions.
But being unusually sensitive and inner-directed means we are to an extent “misfits” in a culture like this that so values sociability, extroversion and quick action – all of [...]
Kathryn Bigelow just became winner of the first Academy Award ever presented to a female director, for her outstanding Best Picture winner, The Hurt Locker.
In an interview about her work as writer-director of Blue Steel (1989), Bigelow noted, “If there’s specific resistance to women making movies, I just choose to ignore that as an obstacle [...]
Even people with exceptional talents can feel insecure and struggle with developing healthy self-esteem.
Meryl Streep, for example, has said, “I have varying degrees of confidence and self-loathing…. You can have a perfectly horrible day where you doubt your talent… Or that you’re boring and they’re going to find out that you don’t know what you’re [...]
Are actors and other performers at greater risk for body image issues and eating disorders than people who are not “in the spotlight”? Maybe.
What has interested me in this topic over the years is how many highly talented women – especially actors – have talked about having body issues and eating disorders now or in [...]
In her article, How To Stop Being So Hard On Yourself, excerpted below, expert on highly sensitive living Jenna Avery explains why sensitive people are so self-critical, and how we can stop:
Every time I work with a fellow sensitive soul, it seems like we always bump into some kind of fear or limiting belief about [...]
The Psychology Today article, Field Guide to The Self-Doubter: Extra Credit, by Susan Pinker, excerpted below, brings insight into the thoughts and feelings many people have about being incompetent or impostors:
Not giving herself credit
Rosalyn Lang has a Ph.D. in molecular biology, has just completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University, and recently launched her own [...]
Being more optimistic than negative in our thinking can impact how happy we feel, how we value ourselves and our level of achievement. But is it always realistic and in our best interest?
Growing up, many of us were treated to stories like the book The Little Engine That Could – a celebration of a train [...]
Personal growth and achievement leader Brian Tracy writes about the importance of positive self-regard :
“Your self-esteem is probably the most important part of your personality. It precedes and predicts your performance in almost everything you do.
“It is the energy source or the reactor core of your personality, and how much self-esteem you have determines your [...]
Psychologist Michael Britt talks about the topic in one of his PsychFiles podcasts, titled: “How Do You Really Raise Self-Esteem? The Incredibles vs. American Idol.” We do need to nurture meaningful self-esteem in kids and ourselves, but not the superficial and overinflated kind; we can enhance our talents by awarding ourselves deserving credit for abilities [...]
From article Five Tips To Improve Your Self Esteem and Reduce Your Fears, By Bertil Hjert.
It is important to examine that which you fear… We are so consumed by the physical manifestations of our anxiety or panic attack that we don’t take the time to analyze what this sudden surge is all about….
Building up your [...]
“Part of me suspects that I’m a loser, and the other part of me thinks I’m God Almighty.” John Lennon
In his article Would you like to stop worrying about what others think?, Morty Lefkoe explains some of the psychodynamics of low self regard, our need for approval, and how his program can eliminate “I’m not [...]
One of the creativity-inspiring characters in her book The Nine Modern Day Muses is Audacity, as author Jill Badonsky explains:
Audacity in the case of Muse creativity is not disrespect toward other mortals, or toward oneself. Audacity’s influence includes respect — yet this does not necessarily mean a positive public opinion is needed.
In fact, one of [...]
eeing a bio of musician Taylor Swift a while ago, I was very struck by her self-assurance and belief in her abilities from an early age, and her assertiveness to realize those talents.
In fourth grade, she won a national poetry contest with her poem “Monster In My Closet.” At eleven, she went to Nashville to [...]
personal growth programs, building self confidence, building self esteem, building identity, psychology of personal growth
“Who do you think you are?” – That is usually thrown at someone as an aggressive or angry challenge. But the variation can be a useful question to ask: ‘Who do I think I am?’
How we identify and classify ourselves can [...]
Hale Dwoskin is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Sedona Method: Your Key to Lasting Happiness, Success, Peace and Emotional Well-being, is a founding member of the Transformational Leadership Council, and CEO of Sedona Training Associates.
He writes in an article about trying to use a form of positive thinking:
When I was in [...]
“During Double Indemnity, Fred MacMurray would go to rushes. I remember asking Fred, ‘How was I?’ ‘I don’t know about you – but I was wonderful!’ Such a true remark. Actors only look at themselves.” Barbara Stanwyck
‘Ordinary’ narcissism
Certainly there are people living with narcissistic personality disorder – in entertainment and other fields – who could [...]
