Zig Ziglar is one of the most famous and entertaining speakers I’ve ever heard. I first had the opportunity to hear him live and in person about 12 years ago when he spoke in Indianapolis. We were at the same place the Colts played and the place was practically filled up. I’ve learned a lot listening to Zig over the years.
Recently, I’ve had to relearn something. And it has to do with my self-worth. I had been looking at myself and had become disappointed with some of the results I was getting: having a lack of punctuality, a lack of success or lower financial standing than I’d hope to be at this age, even a lack of courage to step out and take on certain challenges. What I relearned from Zig was that I may be hurting myself and preventing myself from accomplishing these things. I had been achieving what I believed I was capable of.
You might be in the same boat. Maybe you’ve made mistakes as a husband or dad and those mistakes have caused you to doubt all that you are capable of. If so, it’s time to work on your opinion of you. How you value or devalue yourself dictates what you accomplish as a dad, as a husband, and in life. Here are a few practical things you should be doing regularly to work on you.
1. Exercise and get physically fit.
In addition to helping you look good and have good health, the Mayo Clinic says exercise improves your mood, boosts your energy, and improves your sleep—and it’s fun. It also reduces stress and helps you to feel happy by releasing endorphins.
2. Surround yourself with positive people.
There’s nothing like being surrounded by people who encourage you, even when holding you accountable. And the people you hang with most represent who you most likely are. This quote says it best: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
3. Tell yourself what you’re worth.
One of Zig’s practices, to which he attributes much of his success, is the practice of using what he calls “self-talk cards.” These cards are a set of 3×5 cards with positive affirmations on them, based on Scripture and God’s will, which he recited daily. To some, reciting affirmations seems hokey. But before you pass judgment, listen to why Zig said it works. We are unable to function in a manner that is inconsistent with what we really believe. So, if we affirm that we are always on time, but we are always late, one of two things will happen. We’ll either change our actions so we live up to our “being on time” affirmation, or we’ll stop affirming it. In Zig’s experience and mine, when we say something enough that we believe, our actions follow.
4. Discover and internalize the real truth about who you are.
Discover and internalize the real truth about who you are.As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, my self-worth and self-esteem come from my relationship with Christ and what He says about me. Here are some paraphrases of what God says about us in the Bible: 1. You are capable of doing everything. (Mark 9:23 and 11:24), 2. You are fully capable and have everything you need. (Phil. 4:13 and 4:19), 3. You won’t fail. (Psalm 55:22), 4. You are a people magnet who is full of energy. (Matthew 5:14), and 5. You are strong. (Isaiah 40:31). Reading and memorizing God’s word is one of the greatest ways to improve yourself.
Believe in yourself. The actions listed above can help you restore or improve your self-worth, so you not only see yourself differently, but it’s evident to everyone.
Sound off: What could you accomplish when you truly believe great things about yourself?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “How do you find value in life?”