{"id":20586,"date":"2020-12-09T12:17:15","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T16:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=20586"},"modified":"2020-12-19T17:46:02","modified_gmt":"2020-12-19T21:46:02","slug":"negative-self-image","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/negative-self-image\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Overcome a Negative Self Image"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>What is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/negative-self-perception\/\">negative self image<\/a> and why is it harmful? What should you do about a low self image?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A negative self image can happen for many reasons, including internal and external factors. A low self image can also be very harmful to you and those around you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more about negative self image and what you can do about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Negative Self Image<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While we can\u2019t always control how much physical attention we get, we have come up with a way to cope with a psychological attention deficit\u2014we create (usually unconsciously) <strong>a self-image or self-opinion, which is an internal conception of ourselves that we can use to give ourselves our <em>own<\/em> attention. <\/strong>When we need more attention, have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/consequences-of-low-self-esteem\/\">low self-esteem<\/a>, or feel bad about ourselves, we can turn inward and admire our vision of ourselves. This poor self image can negatively impact you and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Low Self-Opinion or No Self-Opinion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A few people have poor self opinion because their childhood insecurity is related to being successful or good.<\/strong> A low self-opinion is just as strong as a positive one\u2014people who think they\u2019re mean or unworthy are relieved when this opinion is confirmed by a bad thing happening to them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also <strong>people who never properly develop a self-image. These people usually had parents who didn\u2019t encourage them to be independent or unique,<\/strong> and without this encouragement, it\u2019s difficult to create a self-image that feels realistic. Parents can stall the development of self-image by being:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Self-absorbed. <\/strong>The parents don\u2019t pay enough attention to the child\u2019s attempts at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/maturity-continuum-7-habits\/\">independence<\/a>.<\/li><li><strong>Enmeshing.<\/strong> The parents pay too much attention to their child\u2014they\u2019re so involved in her life she can\u2019t establish a sense of self.&nbsp;<ul><li>For example, enmeshing parents might not allow their children to play with others and develop identities separate from the parents.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Importance of Self-Opinion<\/strong> and Effects of Negative Self Image<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Our self-opinion is enormously important to our personalities. <strong>It affects our thinking and values to the point where we reinterpret the truth so that it doesn\u2019t clash with our sense of self.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>For example, if you see yourself as tough and you\u2019re Christian, you\u2019ll look for stories in the Bible that confirm toughness is valuable.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Negative self image can be difficult. You can consider ways to work on a low self opinion and making your life bettere. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a negative self image and why is it harmful? What should you do about a low self image? A negative self image can happen for many reasons, including internal and external factors. A low self image can also be very harmful to you and those around you. Read more about negative self image and what you can do about it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":13379,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,43],"tags":[167],"class_list":["post-20586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychology","category-self-improvement","tag-the-laws-of-human-nature","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Overcome a Negative Self Image - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What&#039;s a negative self image? When our own opinion of ourselves is negative, there can be serious consequences. 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