“When your image improves, your performance improves.”



Zig Ziglar

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses SELF IMAGE with Lori Lara.

Lori Lara is on a mission to share hope, mental health and wellness education, and real-world self-defense instruction. As a black belt in mixed martial arts, Lori teaches a unique blend of effective fighting skills while also building the mental, emotional, and spiritual foundations of self-protection and wellness.

In addition to teaching self-defense and empowerment, both locally and on the road, Lori’s a contributing author of Hope in the Mourning (Zondervan), A Fierce Flourishing (MOPS International), Chicken Soup for the Soul, and numerous recovery sites. She enjoys recording podcasts and being a guest speaker for MOPS International, Saving Innocence, Brave Global, Yellow Ribbon Fund, and working with churches and other non-profit and empowering organizations. Find more about Lori at www.lorilara.com. 

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify.

Our thoughts about ourselves dictate how we see ourselves, and our thoughts create our self-image. Generally, we are our own worst critics, which is so destructive and sad. We could be our biggest fan and support, encouraging ourselves to be our best.

Of all the ailments in the world, one that isn’t addressed often enough is self-image. It is a priority to see ourselves at our best, in our full potential. Everyone deserves to have confidence, self-appreciation, and self-respect, and it is up to us to develop those things.

It is good to recognize that forces are working against us to have a positive self-image. Whether it be other people talking down to you or our current media telling us our teeth need to be whiter and straighter, our bank account needs to be bigger and safer, or our work needs to be faster and greater. Despite all the messages saying you are not good enough, not smart enough, not attractive enough, you must decide you are enough and perfect just as you are.

The greatest effort you can make to improve anything in your life will start with your self-image. When you raise your self-image and confidence, everything else will increase. Too often, we are focusing on the symptoms instead of the root cause of our situation. So, if you have desires or goals to improve any external or circumstantial area of your life, start with your self-image, and the rest will follow.

What are you doing today and on a habitual basis to invest in yourself-image? One thing you can do is write truths about yourself, then read them out loud. Truths such as, “I am great. I am smart. I am strong. I am creative, fun, and beautiful.” Replace any thoughts of “I can’t” with “I can.” Remove any messages or people that tell you otherwise. You may end up with a new set of friends. You are worth the change. Decide today that you will choose thoughts and friends that create a more positive self-image and experience the rewards in every other area of your life.