[michellemichellemichelle]

I have no confidence and very low self esteem. This has a very big impact on all aspects of my life. I am forever putting myself down, I cannot accept compliments although people tell me all the time I am an attractive women. I allow people to use me because I do not think much of myself. I really want to change the way I feel. I want to be confident and at ease in social situations. I have had to resort to anti depressents because I am so down about my life and the way I am.

[phillysteakandcheese]

The way you talk to yourself has a huge impact on how you feel about yourself.

When you ask yourself "Why am I so stupid?" Your brain - consciously and unconsciously - will go about answering that question and provides you all the "proof" you need about why you are so stupid.

If you ask yourself "How do I solve this problem?" Your brain - consciously and unconsciously - will go about answering that question and start coming up with ideas about how to solve this problem you are pondering.

Now take these two patterns of thinking and consider what becomes of a person talking this way to themselves after 5 years.. or 10 years.. or a lifetime.

All of us are human. We're just people. And every person has value... Every person has something they can be proud of. Every person has something they can do well. But people have an amazing capacity for self-deception, and your self-deception is on the negative end.

Stop convincing yourself how "bad" things are and open yourself to all the "good" things around you.
Life is so much better when you look at it as opportunity, not danger.

[s_cianci]

Why do you suppose you're the way you are? Were you raised by extremely overbearing parents? My guess is that you probably were. You need to rid yourself of the mentality that you have to please everybody and that everybody else comes first and not you. You need to do what's right for YOU ; not what's right for someone else. You no doubt had guilt trips put upon you by your family. You need to find a way to rise above those guilt trips and realize that it was just that ; guilt trips, without a shred of legitimate truth to them. Don't ever let someone else make you feel guilty for being who you are.