Self-esteem.
Self-confidence in who we are.
If you struggle with it, you are not alone.
I do too.
I am totally affected by what others say or think about me—even if I only imagine they are thinking something negative about me!
If you know my story, in 2008 I started on a journey to get my health back. In less than a year I lost 100 pounds.
But then four years later, I got a phone call that blindsided me and changed my life forever.
My 21-year-old son had died by suicide.
In a nutshell, after the shock wore off, I eventually sank into a deep depression—and stayed there for quite some time.
And eventually I lost the desire to live. I became apathetic. . .and some of the pounds came back on as a result.
You know what that does to a woman who was a “weight loss success story?”
I hid.
Yep. I was afraid of the snickers; the unkind words behind my back; others’ hidden thoughts.
I had experienced a lot of verbal abuse in elementary school. Being overweight in childhood, I was the brunt of unkind teasing and hurtful words. All of that resurfaced in my mind.
I had to reach out for help. It was bigger than I could handle on my own.
As my mind and heart healed, the weight gradually started to come off again.
Today, I’ve lost most of the weight I had gained, but I’m still not at the size I was prior to my son’s death. The weight has come off so much slower this time. But you know what? Because of the experiences of the past (almost) seven years since his death, I can relate to anyone who gains weight after great success.
I can relate to self-esteem issues so much better than before. I’ve done it all: I’ve lost a significant amount of weight, I’ve gained some of it back—and in the process I’ve learned to love myself just as I am today.
I’m now content in this beautiful day of my journey as opposed to “someday when I get there.”
If you are struggling with self-esteem issues, I encourage you to reach out for help. Confide in a trusted friend or a counselor. You don’t have to remain stuck in the rut of low self-esteem. It’s totally possible to overcome it with the right help.
You are precious and loved just as you are.
You have so much to offer others just as you are.
Here’s to your good health: physical health, emotional health, and mental health!
“God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe, and he is the fortress where I feel secure.” (Psalm 62:6)
If you are hiding due to low self-esteem.
I understand.
Talk about it with someone. Isolation will only make it worse. The truth will set you free!
Emily Boller, artist, mother, and author of Starved to Obesity, lost 100 pounds more than fifteen years ago by eating an abundance of high-nutrient, plant-rich foods. Today, she’s certified in whole plant nutrition from the Nutritarian Education Institute. She’s on a mission to combine practical, no-nonsense and cost-effective tips—with easy to understand science—in order to help anyone escape the addictive grip of the Standard American Diet. And now, she’s on a mission to bring awareness to the suffocating and potentially deadly trap of eating disorders as well.