Whether you are listening to preacher, Joel Osteen’s optimistic sermons or believe in Karma, having a positive image and opinion of yourself works to your benefit – and therefore everyone around you.

For too long I have been under the illusion that belittling myself was attractive to others. It helped the person I was encouraging attain greatness, not me. Meanwhile, I was swimming in self-doubt and eventually, self-loathing.

This path lead to destruction, despair and depression. Wallowing in my flaws and asserting their existence only perpetuated them further.  It was totally useless and undermined my self-esteem.

I came to the conclusion eventually that I had to make believe I was worthy. As noted before, I have been saying affirmations for more than a dozen years but I am pretty thick headed.