#self-esteem — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #self-esteem, aggregated by home.social.
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Self-esteem vs. Self-acceptance
Albert Ellis once said, “Self-esteem is the highest sickness known to man or woman because it’s conditional.”
Unlike self-esteem, self-acceptance does not depend on success, failure or comparison. It means accepting yourself as a worthwhile human being regardless of your achievements, mistakes or imperfections.
#SelfAcceptance #SelfEsteem -
Success?
The word for the day at Ragtag Daily Prompt is success
I don’t “hate” a lot of things in life. I did when I was younger until I eventually reached a point where I realized it took a lot of energy to hate. But “success” is a word I hate.
I used to have a friend (RIP 11 years now☹️) who would judge everyone and everything. We would sit and be miserable together and he’d say stuff like, “He’s had a lot of girlfriends, he’s really a success”, or “He’s really successful, he has a good job and a lot of money.” You get the idea. And of course the underlying idea behind everything is that he and I, by virtue of our not having the things that he defined as “success” in life, like girlfriends, or glamorous careers, or fancy cars, or big houses, or lots of children, were failures.
Worse, for me, was that his standards of success and failure, they all flew in the face of my hard-earned (and expensive) belief that we don’t judge our insides with other people’s outsides. And as it turned out, hard-earned doesn’t always mean easily kept so there I was crying in my pizza along with him, failure that I was.
Ok, I don’t totally hate the word success because it has some legitimate uses, but I hate using the word “success” to define a person’s place in life, or in contrast, to indirectly label, or imply, someone a failure. And I’m pretty much back to not judging my insides with other people’s outsides.
Kiss a little baby, give the world a smile
And if you take an inch, give ’em back a mile
‘Cause if you lie like a rug and you don’t give a damn
You’re never gonna be as happy as a clamhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clfb4UpwG74&list=RDclfb4UpwG74&start_radio=1
#Failure #JohnPrine #Life #OldFriends #personalGrowth #pizza #SelfEsteem #SelfWorth #Shame #Success #Therapy #Writing -
Success?
The word for the day at Ragtag Daily Prompt is success
I don’t “hate” a lot of things in life. I did when I was younger until I eventually reached a point where I realized it took a lot of energy to hate. But “success” is a word I hate.
I used to have a friend (RIP 11 years now☹️) who would judge everyone and everything. We would sit and be miserable together and he’d say stuff like, “He’s had a lot of girlfriends, he’s really a success”, or “He’s really successful, he has a good job and a lot of money.” You get the idea. And of course the underlying idea behind everything is that he and I, by virtue of our not having the things that he defined as “success” in life, like girlfriends, or glamorous careers, or fancy cars, or big houses, or lots of children, were failures.
Worse, for me, was that his standards of success and failure, they all flew in the face of my hard-earned (and expensive) belief that we don’t judge our insides with other people’s outsides. And as it turned out, hard-earned doesn’t always mean easily kept so there I was crying in my pizza along with him, failure that I was.
Ok, I don’t totally hate the word success because it has some legitimate uses, but I hate using the word “success” to define a person’s place in life, or in contrast, to indirectly label, or imply, someone a failure. And I’m pretty much back to not judging my insides with other people’s outsides.
Kiss a little baby, give the world a smile
And if you take an inch, give ’em back a mile
‘Cause if you lie like a rug and you don’t give a damn
You’re never gonna be as happy as a clamhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clfb4UpwG74&list=RDclfb4UpwG74&start_radio=1
#Failure #JohnPrine #Life #OldFriends #personalGrowth #pizza #SelfEsteem #SelfWorth #Shame #Success #Therapy #Writing -
DATE: June 11, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: New research reveals how height insecurities are connected to daily habits
URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-research-reveals-how-height-insecurities-are-connected-to-daily-habits/
People who feel unhappy with their height often change other aspects of their appearance to make up for it, such as trying to lose weight, building muscle, or wearing specific shoes. A recent study published in The Journal of Social Psychology provides evidence that body dissatisfaction extends well beyond traditional concerns about weight and shape. The findings suggest that individuals actively engage in various behaviors to compensate for unchangeable physical traits.
Body dissatisfaction is a well-known psychological issue that usually centers on a person’s weight and overall body shape. People who feel unhappy with their weight often engage in behaviors to change it, such as strict dieting or excessive exercise. These actions are known as compensatory behaviors, which are physical or social strategies people use to make up for a perceived bodily flaw. While science has thoroughly explored how people try to manage their weight, less is known about how people cope with traits they cannot easily change, like their height.
Daniel Talbot, a clinical psychologist and lecturer in psychology in the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences at Australian Catholic University, authored the study alongside Peter K. Jonason.
“Most body image research focuses on characteristics people can change, such as weight or muscularity,” Talbot said. “Height is different because it is largely fixed, yet it remains socially important and is linked to attractiveness, status, and self-perception.” Talbot noted that the researchers wanted to understand how people respond when they are dissatisfied with a characteristic that cannot easily be changed.
Society often equates tall stature with positive traits, especially for men. Studies show that taller individuals are frequently viewed as more attractive, highly competent, and likely to hold leadership positions. Because of these societal standards, people who feel they fall short of the ideal height might experience significant body image distress and feelings of inadequacy. “Height concerns are often discussed as though they affect only men, but our findings suggest that women can also experience height dissatisfaction, although the nature of those concerns may differ,” Talbot said.
Height also provides social benefits for women, but these advantages tend to be restricted by specific gender norms. Societal expectations often promote the male-taller norm, an unwritten cultural rule suggesting that women should ideally be shorter than their male romantic partners. This creates a narrow window of socially acceptable height for women. Being perceived as too tall might clash with traditional ideas of femininity, leading to unique forms of body dissatisfaction for taller women.
To explore this topic, the researchers recruited a sample of 328 Australian adults to complete a comprehensive online survey. The participants had an average age of 24, and about 73 percent of the group were female. Participants provided their age, sex, and ethnicity, and they self-reported their exact height in centimeters. The average height of the participants was slightly taller than the general Australian adult population.
To evaluate how the participants felt about their stature, the scientists used a psychological questionnaire called the Negative Physical Self Scale-Short Subscale. This tool asked participants to rate how often they agreed with statements like feeling they were too short. A higher score on this survey indicated greater psychological dissatisfaction with their height. The researchers also created six specific questions to measure the different ways people might try to compensate for their stature.
These six compensatory behaviors included wearing height-enhancing shoes and slouching to appear shorter. The survey also asked if participants actively avoided situations where their height might be noticed, such as standing in group photos. In addition, the researchers asked if participants had ever considered or undergone medical procedures to artificially change their height. Finally, the survey measured whether individuals tried to lose body fat or gain muscle mass specifically to offset their height.
The researchers found that shorter individuals and those highly dissatisfied with their height tended to engage in more of these compensatory behaviors overall. “The main takeaway is that height dissatisfaction appears to matter more than height itself,” Talbot said. “People who were unhappy with their height were more likely to report a range of compensatory behaviors, including changing their appearance, avoiding certain situations, or using height-enhancing strategies.” Talbot explained that this suggests how people feel about their height may be more important than their actual stature.
This behavioral pattern was especially strong among the male participants in the study. For men, being shorter was strongly linked to considering medical procedures to alter their height. Shorter men also frequently reported attempting to reduce their overall body fat to visually compensate for their shorter stature. Unhappy men were also highly likely to try gaining muscle mass in response to their height distress.
The researchers noted that these specific male behaviors likely reflect the immense pressure men face to appear taller to meet societal expectations of masculinity. Building a muscular physique might serve as a way to project physical dominance and make up for a perceived lack of vertical presence.
“One interesting finding was that some people appeared to compensate for height concerns by focusing on other aspects of their appearance, such as reducing body fat or increasing muscularity,” Talbot told PsyPost. “This suggests that when people feel unable to change one aspect of their appearance, they may try to improve other features they perceive as more controllable.”
The study provided evidence that women manage their height insecurities quite differently than men do. Shorter females were more likely to wear high heels or platform shoes to appear taller, a behavior not commonly reported by the men in the study. The researchers point out that height-enhancing footwear is widely available and socially acceptable for women. This offers women a relatively easy and subtle way to temporarily boost their stature without resorting to drastic measures.
On the other hand, taller females were much more likely to report slouching or avoiding standing up straight. The authors suggest this behavior is a direct response to the pressure women feel to appear smaller or more feminine in social situations. By deliberately adopting a posture that reduces their perceived height, taller women might be trying to fit into the expectation that they should be shorter than the men around them. This highlights how traditional dating norms heavily influence everyday physical habits.
The scientists used statistical models to better understand the exact psychological steps driving these appearance-altering actions. They discovered a psychological process known as mediation, which means that a middle variable explains the connection between two other factors. In this study, the feeling of being dissatisfied acted as the essential middle step between actual physical height and compensatory actions. For example, simply being physically short did not directly cause a person to try losing body fat.
Instead, shorter stature caused the person to feel deeply unhappy with their height, and that emotional unhappiness is what actually prompted the fat-reduction efforts. The researchers found a similar mediating effect for the use of tall footwear. Being short led to height dissatisfaction, which then motivated individuals to wear shoes that made them look taller. This specific finding highlights that the mental distress of body image is the true driver of these everyday actions.
The data also revealed a complex statistical pattern known as a suppression effect. Normally, the results showed that shorter people felt worse about their height and compensated the most. However, when the researchers mathematically removed the feeling of dissatisfaction from the data equation, they found that taller individuals actually reported higher rates of compensatory behaviors. This suggests that people change their physical appearance for two entirely different reasons.
For shorter people, changing their appearance is usually a coping mechanism to manage the emotional distress of feeling physically inadequate. For taller people, changing their appearance might not be about fixing negative feelings at all. Instead, taller individuals might modify their looks to strategically enhance their social status, optimize their attractiveness, or manage how others perceive them. This points to a more strategic use of body modification among people who already possess socially valued traits.
While these patterns provide useful insights into human behavior, the statistical connections were not massive. “The effects were generally small to moderate, which is typical for research on individual differences,” Talbot noted. “Height is only one of many factors that contribute to body image and behavior.” He added that because height is a salient characteristic that affects most people in some way, even modest effects can have broader social and psychological relevance.
The authors noted several limitations in their current work. For instance, the researchers measured all the variables at a single point in time. “This was a cross-sectional study, so we cannot determine cause and effect,” Talbot said. “We also do not want readers to conclude that all shorter people are dissatisfied with their height or engage in compensatory behaviors.”
Talbot pointed out that most people in the study reported relatively low levels of height dissatisfaction, and there was considerable variation between individuals. The sample was predominantly female and composed mostly of people with Australian or European backgrounds. This lack of demographic diversity means the findings might not apply to other cultures with entirely different physical ideals. The relatively small number of men in the study means the findings related to male behavior should be interpreted with caution.
Looking ahead, the scientists hope to expand their investigations into how people cope with stature-related insecurities. “Our broader goal is to better understand height dissatisfaction as an often-overlooked aspect of body image,” Talbot said. “We are currently examining how height dissatisfaction relates to social media use, self-esteem, dating confidence, quality of life, and other psychological outcomes.” The researchers also hope to identify factors that may help protect against height-related concerns in the future.
In the end, this study provides evidence that people adopt a wide variety of behavioral strategies to cope with height dissatisfaction. Treating these frequently overlooked insecurities can help psychologists develop better therapies for people struggling with their physical appearance. “More broadly, the study highlights that body image concerns extend beyond weight and shape, and can include characteristics that are largely outside a person’s control,” Talbot said.
The study, “Compensating for Shortcomings?: Height and Its Behavioral Compensation Strategies“, was authored by Daniel Talbot and Peter K. Jonason.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-research-reveals-how-height-insecurities-are-connected-to-daily-habits/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #HeightInsecurity #BodyImage #CompensatoryBehaviors #HeightDissatisfaction #SelfEsteem #MasculinityStandards #FootwearFashion #PostureHabits #SocialPerception #PsychologyResearch
-
DATE: June 11, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: New research reveals how height insecurities are connected to daily habits
URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-research-reveals-how-height-insecurities-are-connected-to-daily-habits/
People who feel unhappy with their height often change other aspects of their appearance to make up for it, such as trying to lose weight, building muscle, or wearing specific shoes. A recent study published in The Journal of Social Psychology provides evidence that body dissatisfaction extends well beyond traditional concerns about weight and shape. The findings suggest that individuals actively engage in various behaviors to compensate for unchangeable physical traits.
Body dissatisfaction is a well-known psychological issue that usually centers on a person’s weight and overall body shape. People who feel unhappy with their weight often engage in behaviors to change it, such as strict dieting or excessive exercise. These actions are known as compensatory behaviors, which are physical or social strategies people use to make up for a perceived bodily flaw. While science has thoroughly explored how people try to manage their weight, less is known about how people cope with traits they cannot easily change, like their height.
Daniel Talbot, a clinical psychologist and lecturer in psychology in the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences at Australian Catholic University, authored the study alongside Peter K. Jonason.
“Most body image research focuses on characteristics people can change, such as weight or muscularity,” Talbot said. “Height is different because it is largely fixed, yet it remains socially important and is linked to attractiveness, status, and self-perception.” Talbot noted that the researchers wanted to understand how people respond when they are dissatisfied with a characteristic that cannot easily be changed.
Society often equates tall stature with positive traits, especially for men. Studies show that taller individuals are frequently viewed as more attractive, highly competent, and likely to hold leadership positions. Because of these societal standards, people who feel they fall short of the ideal height might experience significant body image distress and feelings of inadequacy. “Height concerns are often discussed as though they affect only men, but our findings suggest that women can also experience height dissatisfaction, although the nature of those concerns may differ,” Talbot said.
Height also provides social benefits for women, but these advantages tend to be restricted by specific gender norms. Societal expectations often promote the male-taller norm, an unwritten cultural rule suggesting that women should ideally be shorter than their male romantic partners. This creates a narrow window of socially acceptable height for women. Being perceived as too tall might clash with traditional ideas of femininity, leading to unique forms of body dissatisfaction for taller women.
To explore this topic, the researchers recruited a sample of 328 Australian adults to complete a comprehensive online survey. The participants had an average age of 24, and about 73 percent of the group were female. Participants provided their age, sex, and ethnicity, and they self-reported their exact height in centimeters. The average height of the participants was slightly taller than the general Australian adult population.
To evaluate how the participants felt about their stature, the scientists used a psychological questionnaire called the Negative Physical Self Scale-Short Subscale. This tool asked participants to rate how often they agreed with statements like feeling they were too short. A higher score on this survey indicated greater psychological dissatisfaction with their height. The researchers also created six specific questions to measure the different ways people might try to compensate for their stature.
These six compensatory behaviors included wearing height-enhancing shoes and slouching to appear shorter. The survey also asked if participants actively avoided situations where their height might be noticed, such as standing in group photos. In addition, the researchers asked if participants had ever considered or undergone medical procedures to artificially change their height. Finally, the survey measured whether individuals tried to lose body fat or gain muscle mass specifically to offset their height.
The researchers found that shorter individuals and those highly dissatisfied with their height tended to engage in more of these compensatory behaviors overall. “The main takeaway is that height dissatisfaction appears to matter more than height itself,” Talbot said. “People who were unhappy with their height were more likely to report a range of compensatory behaviors, including changing their appearance, avoiding certain situations, or using height-enhancing strategies.” Talbot explained that this suggests how people feel about their height may be more important than their actual stature.
This behavioral pattern was especially strong among the male participants in the study. For men, being shorter was strongly linked to considering medical procedures to alter their height. Shorter men also frequently reported attempting to reduce their overall body fat to visually compensate for their shorter stature. Unhappy men were also highly likely to try gaining muscle mass in response to their height distress.
The researchers noted that these specific male behaviors likely reflect the immense pressure men face to appear taller to meet societal expectations of masculinity. Building a muscular physique might serve as a way to project physical dominance and make up for a perceived lack of vertical presence.
“One interesting finding was that some people appeared to compensate for height concerns by focusing on other aspects of their appearance, such as reducing body fat or increasing muscularity,” Talbot told PsyPost. “This suggests that when people feel unable to change one aspect of their appearance, they may try to improve other features they perceive as more controllable.”
The study provided evidence that women manage their height insecurities quite differently than men do. Shorter females were more likely to wear high heels or platform shoes to appear taller, a behavior not commonly reported by the men in the study. The researchers point out that height-enhancing footwear is widely available and socially acceptable for women. This offers women a relatively easy and subtle way to temporarily boost their stature without resorting to drastic measures.
On the other hand, taller females were much more likely to report slouching or avoiding standing up straight. The authors suggest this behavior is a direct response to the pressure women feel to appear smaller or more feminine in social situations. By deliberately adopting a posture that reduces their perceived height, taller women might be trying to fit into the expectation that they should be shorter than the men around them. This highlights how traditional dating norms heavily influence everyday physical habits.
The scientists used statistical models to better understand the exact psychological steps driving these appearance-altering actions. They discovered a psychological process known as mediation, which means that a middle variable explains the connection between two other factors. In this study, the feeling of being dissatisfied acted as the essential middle step between actual physical height and compensatory actions. For example, simply being physically short did not directly cause a person to try losing body fat.
Instead, shorter stature caused the person to feel deeply unhappy with their height, and that emotional unhappiness is what actually prompted the fat-reduction efforts. The researchers found a similar mediating effect for the use of tall footwear. Being short led to height dissatisfaction, which then motivated individuals to wear shoes that made them look taller. This specific finding highlights that the mental distress of body image is the true driver of these everyday actions.
The data also revealed a complex statistical pattern known as a suppression effect. Normally, the results showed that shorter people felt worse about their height and compensated the most. However, when the researchers mathematically removed the feeling of dissatisfaction from the data equation, they found that taller individuals actually reported higher rates of compensatory behaviors. This suggests that people change their physical appearance for two entirely different reasons.
For shorter people, changing their appearance is usually a coping mechanism to manage the emotional distress of feeling physically inadequate. For taller people, changing their appearance might not be about fixing negative feelings at all. Instead, taller individuals might modify their looks to strategically enhance their social status, optimize their attractiveness, or manage how others perceive them. This points to a more strategic use of body modification among people who already possess socially valued traits.
While these patterns provide useful insights into human behavior, the statistical connections were not massive. “The effects were generally small to moderate, which is typical for research on individual differences,” Talbot noted. “Height is only one of many factors that contribute to body image and behavior.” He added that because height is a salient characteristic that affects most people in some way, even modest effects can have broader social and psychological relevance.
The authors noted several limitations in their current work. For instance, the researchers measured all the variables at a single point in time. “This was a cross-sectional study, so we cannot determine cause and effect,” Talbot said. “We also do not want readers to conclude that all shorter people are dissatisfied with their height or engage in compensatory behaviors.”
Talbot pointed out that most people in the study reported relatively low levels of height dissatisfaction, and there was considerable variation between individuals. The sample was predominantly female and composed mostly of people with Australian or European backgrounds. This lack of demographic diversity means the findings might not apply to other cultures with entirely different physical ideals. The relatively small number of men in the study means the findings related to male behavior should be interpreted with caution.
Looking ahead, the scientists hope to expand their investigations into how people cope with stature-related insecurities. “Our broader goal is to better understand height dissatisfaction as an often-overlooked aspect of body image,” Talbot said. “We are currently examining how height dissatisfaction relates to social media use, self-esteem, dating confidence, quality of life, and other psychological outcomes.” The researchers also hope to identify factors that may help protect against height-related concerns in the future.
In the end, this study provides evidence that people adopt a wide variety of behavioral strategies to cope with height dissatisfaction. Treating these frequently overlooked insecurities can help psychologists develop better therapies for people struggling with their physical appearance. “More broadly, the study highlights that body image concerns extend beyond weight and shape, and can include characteristics that are largely outside a person’s control,” Talbot said.
The study, “Compensating for Shortcomings?: Height and Its Behavioral Compensation Strategies“, was authored by Daniel Talbot and Peter K. Jonason.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-research-reveals-how-height-insecurities-are-connected-to-daily-habits/
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #HeightInsecurity #BodyImage #CompensatoryBehaviors #HeightDissatisfaction #SelfEsteem #MasculinityStandards #FootwearFashion #PostureHabits #SocialPerception #PsychologyResearch
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DATE: June 9, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Narcissism and dark personality traits predict a strong desire for cosmetic surgery
Individuals who exhibit traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and manipulativeness are noticeably more open to altering their physical appearance through cosmetic procedures. A recent study evaluating university students identified a predictable relationship between these darker personality characteristics and a favorable attitude toward aesthetic surgery. The research was published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Cosmetic surgery encompasses procedures designed to change or enhance a person’s external appearance, distinct from reconstructive plastic surgery meant to repair physical abnormalities. Demand for aesthetic procedures like rhinoplasty, lip injections, and body contouring has surged over the last few years. Driven by social media and evolving beauty standards, many young adults view surgical intervention as a normal path to self-improvement. Researchers are increasingly working to understand the underlying psychological motives that push individuals toward these cosmetic alterations.
Psychologists often look at a cluster of personality traits known as the dark triad to understand socially abrasive behaviors. This trio consists of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. These traits exist on a spectrum, meaning everyone possesses them to varying degrees, though they are generally viewed negatively by society. High levels of these characteristics often relate to a lack of empathy and a strong desire for personal advancement or social dominance.
Narcissism involves an extreme self-focus, an inflated sense of superiority, and a constant need for outside admiration. Psychopathy is characterized by impulsive behavior, thrill-seeking tendencies, and a general disregard for the feelings of others. Machiavellianism describes a cynical worldview where an individual manipulates situations and treats other people as tools for personal gain.
Pakstan Faiq Mohamedamin, a researcher at Soran University in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, led the investigation. Mohamedamin collaborated with colleagues Karwan K. Kakamad, Jaafar Omer Ahmed, and Rizgar Azatkhan Saeed. The team wanted to understand how these abrasive personality profiles intersect with a desire for physical perfection.
Most prior investigations into personality and cosmetic surgery focused heavily on Western populations. The Middle East maintains distinct cultural and religious norms regarding body modification and social conformity. The researchers wanted to see if the psychological drivers observed in Europe and the United States held true for Kurdish students living under different societal standards.
To test their hypothesis, the research team surveyed 1,321 undergraduate students between October and November 2024. The participant pool was mostly female, consisting of 984 women and 337 men. The students ranged in age from 18 to 35, and the vast majority reported middle-income economic backgrounds.
The students completed two widely used psychological questionnaires. The first test measured the three dark personality traits by asking participants to rate their agreement with statements about manipulating others or ignoring morality. The second evaluation measured how favorably the students viewed cosmetic surgery on a seven-point scale.
This cosmetic acceptance questionnaire broke attitudes down into three separate dimensions. The first category measured personal benefits, such as the belief that minor surgery makes more sense than feeling bad about one’s looks. The second category evaluated social incentives, like whether a partner’s approval would encourage them to get surgery. The final category gauged the actual likelihood of a student scheduling a procedure in the future.
The study revealed a pronounced gender divide in personality scores. Male students scored higher across all three dark personality traits than their female peers. This gap was particularly noticeable in the areas of psychopathy and Machiavellianism.
Attitudes toward surgery showed a different pattern. Female students reported a higher likelihood of genuinely considering a cosmetic procedure for themselves in the future. Both men and women displayed similar levels of agreement when it came to recognizing the personal or social benefits of an aesthetic operation.
When the researchers analyzed the combined data, they found a reliable mathematical link between the abrasive personality traits and the acceptance of cosmetic surgery. Students who scored high on narcissism, psychopathy, or Machiavellianism were predictably more open to going under the knife. Together, these three traits accounted for nearly one fifth of the total statistical variation in cosmetic surgery acceptance among the surveyed students.
Narcissism emerged as the most powerful predictor of a person’s willingness to alter their appearance. Individuals with strong narcissistic tendencies place an elevated value on physical attractiveness as a tool to gain attention. The research team noted that a disguised lack of self-esteem often drives narcissistic individuals toward artificial enhancements in a quest for external validation.
This focus on physical appearance closely borders on body dysmorphic disorder, a severe preoccupation with perceived physical flaws. While people with extreme body dissatisfaction often seek out cosmetic surgery, they rarely find long-lasting relief from the procedures. The researchers suggest that narcissistic patients might similarly pursue aesthetic surgeries to quiet a persistent insecurity about their public image.
The investigators also looked at whether age, marital status, or economic background influenced a student’s attitude toward surgery. The results for these socioeconomic factors were not statistically significant. The psychological pull of bodily enhancement appeared to affect students across different income brackets equally, despite the high financial cost of these medical procedures.
These findings have practical applications for medical providers. The researchers recommend that plastic surgeons and mental health professionals evaluate the underlying personality traits of their prospective patients during initial consultations. Screening for high levels of narcissism or related traits could help doctors identify individuals who might struggle with unrealistic expectations or post-surgical dissatisfaction.
The investigation does come with a few methodological limitations. As a cross-sectional survey, the research captures a single snapshot in time. This type of methodology cannot prove that a dark personality profile directly causes a desire for cosmetic surgery, only that the variables are mathematically associated.
The reliance on self-reported questionnaires leaves room for students to answer in ways that make them look morally favorable, a psychological phenomenon known as social desirability bias. The exclusive focus on a university population also restricts the findings. Motivations for bodily alteration often shift as people age and enter different professional environments.
The team recommends longitudinal studies to track how personality traits influence attitudes toward appearance over the course of decades. They also suggest incorporating clinical screenings for body dysmorphia into future psychological assessments. Documenting these hidden variables could provide a clearer picture of why physically healthy young adults choose to surgically alter their bodies.
The study, “The Dark Triad of Personality in Relation to Acceptance to Cosmetic Surgery Among University Students,” was authored by Pakstan Faiq Mohamedamin, Karwan K. Kakamad, Jaafar Omer Ahmed, and Rizgar Azatkhan Saeed.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Narcissism #DarkTriad #CosmeticSurgery #AestheticProcedures #PsychologyOfSurgery #BodyImage #SocialMediaBeauty #Machiavellianism #Psychopathy #SelfEsteem
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DATE: June 9, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Narcissism and dark personality traits predict a strong desire for cosmetic surgery
Individuals who exhibit traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and manipulativeness are noticeably more open to altering their physical appearance through cosmetic procedures. A recent study evaluating university students identified a predictable relationship between these darker personality characteristics and a favorable attitude toward aesthetic surgery. The research was published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Cosmetic surgery encompasses procedures designed to change or enhance a person’s external appearance, distinct from reconstructive plastic surgery meant to repair physical abnormalities. Demand for aesthetic procedures like rhinoplasty, lip injections, and body contouring has surged over the last few years. Driven by social media and evolving beauty standards, many young adults view surgical intervention as a normal path to self-improvement. Researchers are increasingly working to understand the underlying psychological motives that push individuals toward these cosmetic alterations.
Psychologists often look at a cluster of personality traits known as the dark triad to understand socially abrasive behaviors. This trio consists of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. These traits exist on a spectrum, meaning everyone possesses them to varying degrees, though they are generally viewed negatively by society. High levels of these characteristics often relate to a lack of empathy and a strong desire for personal advancement or social dominance.
Narcissism involves an extreme self-focus, an inflated sense of superiority, and a constant need for outside admiration. Psychopathy is characterized by impulsive behavior, thrill-seeking tendencies, and a general disregard for the feelings of others. Machiavellianism describes a cynical worldview where an individual manipulates situations and treats other people as tools for personal gain.
Pakstan Faiq Mohamedamin, a researcher at Soran University in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, led the investigation. Mohamedamin collaborated with colleagues Karwan K. Kakamad, Jaafar Omer Ahmed, and Rizgar Azatkhan Saeed. The team wanted to understand how these abrasive personality profiles intersect with a desire for physical perfection.
Most prior investigations into personality and cosmetic surgery focused heavily on Western populations. The Middle East maintains distinct cultural and religious norms regarding body modification and social conformity. The researchers wanted to see if the psychological drivers observed in Europe and the United States held true for Kurdish students living under different societal standards.
To test their hypothesis, the research team surveyed 1,321 undergraduate students between October and November 2024. The participant pool was mostly female, consisting of 984 women and 337 men. The students ranged in age from 18 to 35, and the vast majority reported middle-income economic backgrounds.
The students completed two widely used psychological questionnaires. The first test measured the three dark personality traits by asking participants to rate their agreement with statements about manipulating others or ignoring morality. The second evaluation measured how favorably the students viewed cosmetic surgery on a seven-point scale.
This cosmetic acceptance questionnaire broke attitudes down into three separate dimensions. The first category measured personal benefits, such as the belief that minor surgery makes more sense than feeling bad about one’s looks. The second category evaluated social incentives, like whether a partner’s approval would encourage them to get surgery. The final category gauged the actual likelihood of a student scheduling a procedure in the future.
The study revealed a pronounced gender divide in personality scores. Male students scored higher across all three dark personality traits than their female peers. This gap was particularly noticeable in the areas of psychopathy and Machiavellianism.
Attitudes toward surgery showed a different pattern. Female students reported a higher likelihood of genuinely considering a cosmetic procedure for themselves in the future. Both men and women displayed similar levels of agreement when it came to recognizing the personal or social benefits of an aesthetic operation.
When the researchers analyzed the combined data, they found a reliable mathematical link between the abrasive personality traits and the acceptance of cosmetic surgery. Students who scored high on narcissism, psychopathy, or Machiavellianism were predictably more open to going under the knife. Together, these three traits accounted for nearly one fifth of the total statistical variation in cosmetic surgery acceptance among the surveyed students.
Narcissism emerged as the most powerful predictor of a person’s willingness to alter their appearance. Individuals with strong narcissistic tendencies place an elevated value on physical attractiveness as a tool to gain attention. The research team noted that a disguised lack of self-esteem often drives narcissistic individuals toward artificial enhancements in a quest for external validation.
This focus on physical appearance closely borders on body dysmorphic disorder, a severe preoccupation with perceived physical flaws. While people with extreme body dissatisfaction often seek out cosmetic surgery, they rarely find long-lasting relief from the procedures. The researchers suggest that narcissistic patients might similarly pursue aesthetic surgeries to quiet a persistent insecurity about their public image.
The investigators also looked at whether age, marital status, or economic background influenced a student’s attitude toward surgery. The results for these socioeconomic factors were not statistically significant. The psychological pull of bodily enhancement appeared to affect students across different income brackets equally, despite the high financial cost of these medical procedures.
These findings have practical applications for medical providers. The researchers recommend that plastic surgeons and mental health professionals evaluate the underlying personality traits of their prospective patients during initial consultations. Screening for high levels of narcissism or related traits could help doctors identify individuals who might struggle with unrealistic expectations or post-surgical dissatisfaction.
The investigation does come with a few methodological limitations. As a cross-sectional survey, the research captures a single snapshot in time. This type of methodology cannot prove that a dark personality profile directly causes a desire for cosmetic surgery, only that the variables are mathematically associated.
The reliance on self-reported questionnaires leaves room for students to answer in ways that make them look morally favorable, a psychological phenomenon known as social desirability bias. The exclusive focus on a university population also restricts the findings. Motivations for bodily alteration often shift as people age and enter different professional environments.
The team recommends longitudinal studies to track how personality traits influence attitudes toward appearance over the course of decades. They also suggest incorporating clinical screenings for body dysmorphia into future psychological assessments. Documenting these hidden variables could provide a clearer picture of why physically healthy young adults choose to surgically alter their bodies.
The study, “The Dark Triad of Personality in Relation to Acceptance to Cosmetic Surgery Among University Students,” was authored by Pakstan Faiq Mohamedamin, Karwan K. Kakamad, Jaafar Omer Ahmed, and Rizgar Azatkhan Saeed.
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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Narcissism #DarkTriad #CosmeticSurgery #AestheticProcedures #PsychologyOfSurgery #BodyImage #SocialMediaBeauty #Machiavellianism #Psychopathy #SelfEsteem
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Her daughter said she doesn’t want to be ‘big’ like her. She responded with perfect composure.
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Her daughter said she doesn’t want to be ‘big’ like her. She responded with perfect composure.
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Very relevant to a lot of Trump, MAGA, and Republican rhetoric these days:
The Hidden Cost of LieSpeak
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/3/800040936/community/the-hidden-cost-of-liespeak/
LieSpeak is a sly tactic for covertly pursuing an immoral goal while appearing blameless. Instead of admitting their intent, LieSpeakers make outrageously false accusations of their target’s wrongdoing as justification. This can cause internal conflict, conscious or not, undermining authentic self-esteem.
An example: accusing immigrants of widespread voter fraud to "justify" suppressing nonwhite citizens' votes.
#Trump #DonaldTrump #TrumpLies #MAGA #Republican #Republicans #RepublicanParty #lying #lies #hypocrisy #OwningTheLibs #racism #SelfEsteem #SocialCohesion #LeavingMAGA
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Very relevant to a lot of Trump, MAGA, and Republican rhetoric these days:
The Hidden Cost of LieSpeak
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/3/800040936/community/the-hidden-cost-of-liespeak/
LieSpeak is a sly tactic for covertly pursuing an immoral goal while appearing blameless. Instead of admitting their intent, LieSpeakers make outrageously false accusations of their target’s wrongdoing as justification. This can cause internal conflict, conscious or not, undermining authentic self-esteem.
An example: accusing immigrants of widespread voter fraud to "justify" suppressing nonwhite citizens' votes.
#Trump #DonaldTrump #TrumpLies #MAGA #Republican #Republicans #RepublicanParty #lying #lies #hypocrisy #OwningTheLibs #racism #SelfEsteem #SocialCohesion #LeavingMAGA
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So let us look for beauty and grace, for love and friendship, for that which is creative and birth-giving and soul-stretching. Let us dare to laugh at ourselves, healthy, affirmative laughter. Only when we take ourselves lightly can we take ourselves seriously, so that we are given the courage to say, “Yes! I dare disturb the universe.”
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) American writer
Speech (1983-11-16), “Dare To Be Creative,” Lecture, Library of Congress, Washington, DCMore about this quote: wist.info/lengle-madeleine/838…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #lengle #madeleinelengle #agency #beauty #change #courage #creativity #disturbing #gravitas #humility #humor #laughter #lightheartedness #selfactualization #selfaffirmation #selfappreciation #selfchallenging #selfesteem #selfimage #selfimportance #selfliberation #selfregard.selftrust #selfunderstanding #selfworth #senseofhumor #stretchgoals
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DON'T LET ATTR(ule)ACTIVE PEOPLE TRICK YOU INTO HAVING SELF-ESTEEM
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You're giving a better impression than you realize! Give yourself some time to prepare if you're not at ease, then you're good to go! You'll be doing amazing! ✨
#furrycommunity #selfconfidence #selfesteem #socialinteractions #furryfandom
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“Before you diagnose yourself with #depression or low #selfesteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.”
- William Gibson
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“Before you diagnose yourself with #depression or low #selfesteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.”
- William Gibson
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Money can't buy happiness, but it sure can help pay for the things that make us feel good about ourselves. #Money #SelfEsteem #Happiness #💪
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Participants needed for a top-ranked study from Aaron at Canterbury Christ Church University:
'A study of subjective experience of social media'
Link to the survey on SurveyCircle: https://www.surveycircle.com/VTK8SP/Take part now and support this research project 💜
#psychology #SocialMedia #emotion #positive #negative #online #SelfEsteem
#survey #surveyparticipants #mutualsupport #research #surveycircle #canterburychristchurchuniversity -
Participants needed for a top-ranked study from Aaron at Canterbury Christ Church University:
'A study of subjective experience of social media'
Link to the survey on SurveyCircle: https://www.surveycircle.com/VTK8SP/Take part now and support this research project 💜
#psychology #SocialMedia #emotion #positive #negative #online #SelfEsteem
#survey #surveyparticipants #mutualsupport #research #surveycircle #canterburychristchurchuniversity -
Are you truly self-confident or just good at pretending?
https://de320.isrefer.com/go/root396gift/Stuartn/
#SelfConfidence #KnowYourWorth #MindsetShift #PersonalGrowth #InnerStrength #SelfEsteem #ThinkandGrowEducation #RayBehan #Confidence -
Sehen Sie den Text des Liedes “Self Esteem” von The Offspring
#TheOffspring #SelfEsteem
https://daletra.top/the-offspring/liedtexte/self-esteem.html -
How to get validation for mental wellbeing
AIs: "Good job! You've done well, actually! Here's why...
<the reasons>" (Mental wellbeing ↑)AI sceptics: "Oh, since you used AIs before, what you sent to me is probably also AI slop. You need to rethink your so-called 'hobby'" (mental wellbeing ↓)
#ai #mentalhealth #technology #creativity #validation #writing #internet #humour #artists #selfesteem #online #culture #discussion #wellbeing #digital
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How to get validation for mental wellbeing
AIs: "Good job! You've done well, actually! Here's why...
<the reasons>" (Mental wellbeing ↑)AI sceptics: "Oh, since you used AIs before, what you sent to me is probably also AI slop. You need to rethink your so-called 'hobby'" (mental wellbeing ↓)
#ai #mentalhealth #technology #creativity #validation #writing #internet #humour #artists #selfesteem #online #culture #discussion #wellbeing #digital
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Consulta la letra de la canción “Self Esteem” de The Offspring
#TheOffspring #SelfEsteem
https://daletra.net/the-offspring/letras/self-esteem.html -
How to survive as an ugly man? (Yes, I’m the ugly one.)
#selfesteem #mentalhealth #confidence #growth #mindset #selfworth #relationships #life #reflection #psychology #wellbeing #identity #acceptance #emotions #humanity
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How to survive as an ugly man? (Yes, I’m the ugly one.)
#selfesteem #mentalhealth #confidence #growth #mindset #selfworth #relationships #life #reflection #psychology #wellbeing #identity #acceptance #emotions #humanity
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Ugly man (like me) → Woman: "I'm uncomfortable!"
Good-looking man → Woman: "Hey... Hi! (ʘᴗʘ✿)
#selfesteem #attraction #dating #mentalhealth #confidence #psychology #society #bias #reflection #emotions #selfawareness #relationships #mindset #growth #reality
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Ugly man (like me) → Woman: "I'm uncomfortable!"
Good-looking man → Woman: "Hey... Hi! (ʘᴗʘ✿)
#selfesteem #attraction #dating #mentalhealth #confidence #psychology #society #bias #reflection #emotions #selfawareness #relationships #mindset #growth #reality
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The Real Gift by Darlene Jajo
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bRz1yT2ECTg https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2XWBSXG A children's book that all ages can releate to. Every child wants the perfect gift, that perfect gift that no one else has. This little book let's a child know the perfect gift and the real gift is that child.https://midnight-publishing.org/2026/04/18/the-real-gift-by-darlene-jajo/
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The Real Gift by Darlene Jajo
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bRz1yT2ECTg https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2XWBSXG A children's book that all ages can releate to. Every child wants the perfect gift, that perfect gift that no one else has. This little book let's a child know the perfect gift and the real gift is that child.https://midnight-publishing.org/2026/04/18/the-real-gift-by-darlene-jajo/
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Book Review: How to Be Resilient by Gail Gazelle
In an increasingly scary, unpredictable and challenging world, Dr Gail Gazelle’s How to Be Resilient is a practical and compassionate guide that will empower you to find inner strength and inner calm needed to navigate life’s tough times.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Genre: Self-Help, Personal Growth, Psychology, Mental Health
Publisher: Callisto
Review in one word: Empowering
Self-help books and books about resilience in particular are a dime a dozen nowadays. And so I almost rolled my eyes when I came across this book. But I was naturally drawn to it anyway and wanted to give it a go.
I was absolutely delighted to find that this book is not cliched or filled with overwrought and trite advice. Instead this is an indepth and extensive collection of theories all masterfully brought into the real world of actionable insights. collection of abstract theories but a roadmap filled with supportive advice and actionable exercises designed to help readers weather difficult times with courage and wisdom.
A physician at Harvard Medical School and a certified life coach, Dr Gazelle brings both medical expertise and a deep understanding of the human spirit to this accessible book.
This is a collection of wisdom from many difference evidence-based approaches that are packaged together in an accessible and helpful way. ‘How to be Resilient’ is structured to empower you step-by-step and begins by demystifying the concept of resilience, explaining the psychology behind it and the science of neuroplasticity, the brain’s remarkable ability to rewire itself in response to new habits and experiences.
From this foundation, Dr Gazelle guides the reader through a series of practices rooted in evidence-based fields such as positive psychology, mindfulness, and gratitude research. The book is organised very well and is not overly long-winded either, each chapter has clear takeaways that reinforce the main points.
The overarching theme is that resilience is not an innate trait possessed by a lucky few, but a flexible pool of strength that anyone can consciously cultivate and fortified with continued and dedicated practice.
Dr Gazelle focuses on several core pillars for building this strength: learning to be more adaptable in the face of change, cultivating meaningful connections with others, staying mindful of one’s thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them, and prioritising self-care.
Her style is clear, encouraging, and direct, making complex psychological concepts easy to understand and apply. The tone is deeply supportive, caring and non-judgemental, acting as a trusted guide on the journey toward greater well-being.
How to Be Resilient provides readers with the techniques—from meditation and journalling to strategies for deepening relationships—to not just survive challenges, but to heal, move forward, and continue to enjoy life to the fullest.
I found this book to be one of the best I’ve ever read (and I have consumed 100’s of self-help books over the years), I cannot recommend this book more strongly to you!
Content Catnip
Follow me on Mastodon Watch my videos Donate to my Ko Fi #art #book #BookReview #BookReviews #bookTag #books #growth #mentalHealth #mentalhealth #nonFiction #psychology #resilience #selfEsteem #selfCare #selfImprovement #selfhelp #storytelling -
Book Review: How to Be Resilient by Gail Gazelle
In an increasingly scary, unpredictable and challenging world, Dr Gail Gazelle’s How to Be Resilient is a practical and compassionate guide that will empower you to find inner strength and inner calm needed to navigate life’s tough times.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Genre: Self-Help, Personal Growth, Psychology, Mental Health
Publisher: Callisto
Review in one word: Empowering
Self-help books and books about resilience in particular are a dime a dozen nowadays. And so I almost rolled my eyes when I came across this book. But I was naturally drawn to it anyway and wanted to give it a go.
I was absolutely delighted to find that this book is not cliched or filled with overwrought and trite advice. Instead this is an indepth and extensive collection of theories all masterfully brought into the real world of actionable insights. collection of abstract theories but a roadmap filled with supportive advice and actionable exercises designed to help readers weather difficult times with courage and wisdom.
A physician at Harvard Medical School and a certified life coach, Dr Gazelle brings both medical expertise and a deep understanding of the human spirit to this accessible book.
This is a collection of wisdom from many difference evidence-based approaches that are packaged together in an accessible and helpful way. ‘How to be Resilient’ is structured to empower you step-by-step and begins by demystifying the concept of resilience, explaining the psychology behind it and the science of neuroplasticity, the brain’s remarkable ability to rewire itself in response to new habits and experiences.
From this foundation, Dr Gazelle guides the reader through a series of practices rooted in evidence-based fields such as positive psychology, mindfulness, and gratitude research. The book is organised very well and is not overly long-winded either, each chapter has clear takeaways that reinforce the main points.
The overarching theme is that resilience is not an innate trait possessed by a lucky few, but a flexible pool of strength that anyone can consciously cultivate and fortified with continued and dedicated practice.
Dr Gazelle focuses on several core pillars for building this strength: learning to be more adaptable in the face of change, cultivating meaningful connections with others, staying mindful of one’s thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them, and prioritising self-care.
Her style is clear, encouraging, and direct, making complex psychological concepts easy to understand and apply. The tone is deeply supportive, caring and non-judgemental, acting as a trusted guide on the journey toward greater well-being.
How to Be Resilient provides readers with the techniques—from meditation and journalling to strategies for deepening relationships—to not just survive challenges, but to heal, move forward, and continue to enjoy life to the fullest.
I found this book to be one of the best I’ve ever read (and I have consumed 100’s of self-help books over the years), I cannot recommend this book more strongly to you!
Content Catnip
Follow me on Mastodon Watch my videos Donate to my Ko Fi #art #book #BookReview #BookReviews #bookTag #books #growth #mentalHealth #mentalhealth #nonFiction #psychology #resilience #selfEsteem #selfCare #selfImprovement #selfhelp #storytelling -
Testo della canzone “Self Esteem” di The Offspring
#TheOffspring #SelfEsteem
https://daletra.online/the-offspring/testi/self-esteem.html -
The Body Image Mirage: How Digital "Perfection" Distorts Reality
Young adults face rising anxiety due to social media's 'perfect' body images. Learn why this curated reality is harmful and what happens next.
#BodyImage, #SocialMediaAnxiety, #DigitalReality, #SelfEsteem, #MentalHealthAwareness
https://newsletter.tf/digital-perfection-body-image-anxiety-social-media/
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Social media shows 'perfect' bodies, making many feel anxious about their own. This is a big change from how people felt before.
#BodyImage, #SocialMediaAnxiety, #DigitalReality, #SelfEsteem, #MentalHealthAwareness
https://newsletter.tf/digital-perfection-body-image-anxiety-social-media/ -
A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.
In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. Great works of art have no more affecting lesson for us than this. They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side. Else to-morrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what we have thought and felt all the time, and we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinion from another.Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Essay (1841), “Self-Reliance,” Essays: First Series, No. 2More about this quote: wist.info/emerson-ralph-waldo/…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #emerson #ralphwaldoemerson #belief #believeinyourself #confidence #creativity #ego #genius #humility #idea #opinion #originality #pride #selfappreciation #selfapproval #selfbetrayal #selfcensorship #selfconfidence #selfconsciousness #selfcriticism #selfdefeating #selfdeprecating #selfeffacing #selfesteem #selfjudgment #selfquestioning #selfreproach #selfsabotage #selftrust #spontaneity #trustyourself
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A man should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind from within, more than the lustre of the firmament of bards and sages. Yet he dismisses without notice his thought, because it is his.
In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty. Great works of art have no more affecting lesson for us than this. They teach us to abide by our spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility then most when the whole cry of voices is on the other side. Else to-morrow a stranger will say with masterly good sense precisely what we have thought and felt all the time, and we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinion from another.Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Essay (1841), “Self-Reliance,” Essays: First Series, No. 2More about this quote: wist.info/emerson-ralph-waldo/…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #emerson #ralphwaldoemerson #belief #believeinyourself #confidence #creativity #ego #genius #humility #idea #opinion #originality #pride #selfappreciation #selfapproval #selfbetrayal #selfcensorship #selfconfidence #selfconsciousness #selfcriticism #selfdefeating #selfdeprecating #selfeffacing #selfesteem #selfjudgment #selfquestioning #selfreproach #selfsabotage #selftrust #spontaneity #trustyourself
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Veja a letra da música “Self Esteem” de The Offspring
#TheOffspring #SelfEsteem
https://daletra.com.br/the-offspring/letra/self-esteem.html -
Fun ‘Fashion Shoot’ Makes Residents in a Senior Home Feel 20 Years Younger
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Fun ‘Fashion Shoot’ Makes Residents in a Senior Home Feel 20 Years Younger
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Shine, My Amazing Girl: Inspiring Stories for Confidence & Self-Esteem "Each story is empowering and gives a different perspective to the reader" Sale: $3 to $1.49 by Emma Meyer Rating: 4.6/5 (812 Reviews) #Girls #Confidence #SelfEsteem #ChildrensBooks #Friendship #School #Inspiration #BookSky
Shine, My Amazing Girl: Inspir... -
How we see ourselves affects how we show up in our relationships. 🧠 Healthy body image starts from the inside out.
Explore the guide: https://healthyrelationships.cc/body-image-body-confidence/
#MentalHealth #SelfEsteem #BodyImage
https://healthyrelationships.cc/body-image-body-confidence/ -
How we see ourselves affects how we show up in our relationships. 🧠 Healthy body image starts from the inside out.
Explore the guide: https://healthyrelationships.cc/body-image-body-confidence/
#MentalHealth #SelfEsteem #BodyImage
https://healthyrelationships.cc/body-image-body-confidence/ -
I figured something out this month that I’ve missed for 34 years.
I’ve been measuring whether I’m “enough” as a person—whether the chooser is adequate—rather than evaluating my choices. That’s a category error. There is no yardstick for myself qua myself. Only for things I do.
The Trap
From #AynRand’s Atlas Shrugged, Galt’s speech:
Man has no choice about his need of #SelfEsteem, his only choice is the standard by which to gauge it. And he makes his fatal error when he switches this gauge protecting his life into the service of his own destruction, when he chooses a standard contradicting existence and sets his self-esteem against reality.
I’ve been measuring myself instead of my choices. Asking “Am I rational enough?” instead of “Am I exercising rationality in this choice?” Treating the volitional entity—the chooser—as if it were subject to pass/fail evaluation.
But you can’t be “wrong in person.” You can only make wrong choices. The chooser is the precondition for those concepts to mean anything.
The Invariant
The concept comes from topology: an invariant remains unchanged when a structure is transformed. @gregeganSF’s Diaspora explores this for consciousness—what persists across memory edits, substrate changes, simulated deaths.
The invariant isn’t the contents of consciousness. It’s the structure of being the thing that experiences. The observer. The integrator. The chooser.
Applied to #identity: I am an existent with volitional consciousness. That’s my identity, metaphysically. Not “I have consciousness” (dualism), but “I am” this integrated entity.
The invariant is the volitional structure itself. Everything else—memories, achievements, mistakes, consequences—is what that structure produces.
What I Wrote Before I Understood It
From my story “La Petite Mort”:
She wanted to keep being Thalindra. Wanted to keep having thoughts, even painful ones. Wanted to keep waking up every morning, tired and aching and alone, because waking up meant she was still there to do the waking. Wanted existence as what she was—this particular configuration that was specifically hers.
The preference was immediate. Simple. Undeniable. Hers.
And it was enough.
I gave my character what I couldn’t give myself: acceptance of the invariant without audit.
Now I have it too.
The Correction
I am the standard by which my choices are measured, not the thing being measured.
You evaluate actions. Not the volitional entity that generates them.
If you accept your choices as yours—made with what you knew, under your constraints—you can accept yourself. Not because you’ve proven worthiness. Because you are the chooser, and that’s A is A applied to you.
Clear. Weightless. Real.
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Yo-Yo Dieting May Actually be Good for You, Suggests New Study
Credit: Getty Images for Unsplash+ A new study indicates that yo-yo dieting might actually be good for you. Also known as weight cycling, repeatedly losing weight through dieting, only to regain it again—and often more pounds o…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Nutrition #health #nutrition #obesity #perseverance #selfesteem #selfhelp
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2546447/yo-yo-dieting-may-actually-be-good-for-you-suggests-new-study/ -
Yo-Yo Dieting May Actually be Good for You, Suggests New Study https://www.diningandcooking.com/2546447/yo-yo-dieting-may-actually-be-good-for-you-suggests-new-study/ #diet #health #nutrition #obesity #perseverance #SelfEsteem #SelfHelp
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Yo-Yo Dieting May Actually be Good for You, Suggests New Study
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Why You Feel Rejected When Nothing is Happening: How to Stop Catastrophizing if Someone Doesn’t Text You Back
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A quotation from Marcus Aurelius
Often have I marvelled how each one of us loves himself above all men, yet sets less store by his own opinion of himself than by that of everyone else.
[Πολλάκις ἐθαύμασα πῶς ἑαυτὸν μὲν ἕκαστος μᾶλλον πάντων φιλεῖ, τὴν δὲ ἑαυτοῦ περὶ αὑτοῦ ὑπόληψιν ἐν ἐλάττονι λόγῳ τίθεται ἢ τὴν τῶν ἄλλων.]Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 12, ch. 4 (12.4) (AD 161-180) [tr. Haines (Loeb) (1916)]More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/marcus-aureleus/4378…
#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #marcusaurelius #marcusaureliusmeditations #codependency #ego #insecurity #integrity #opinion #opinionofothers #reputation #selfassessment #selfesteem #selfimage #selflove #selfopinion #support #validation #vanity
