Self-Hindering?
July 5, 2009
Self-help ‘makes you feel worse’
Canadian researchers found those with low self-esteem actually felt worse after repeating positive statements about themselves.
They said phrases such as “I am a lovable person” only helped people with high self-esteem.
Do people go about the day saying these mantras? Really?
They found that, paradoxically, those with low self-esteem were in a better mood when they were allowed to have negative thoughts than when they were asked to focus exclusively on affirmative thoughts.
Interesting. So basically. Leave people al0ne and let them think what they think? Weird study.
Simon Delsthorpe, a psychologist with Bradford District Care Trust and spokesman for the British Psychological Society, said self-esteem was based on a range of real life factors, and that counselling to build confidence – rather than telling yourself things are better than they are – was the solution.
Another shocking solution from the world pf psychology, instead of telling yourself things are good when they aren’t you should learn how to make things in life better. Yay! I deserve a trophy.
