Self-Image-Moving outside the box

The Self-Image is a critically important piece of the Self-Awareness pillar of Emotional Intelligence. Your Self-Image defines and limits almost everything you do. Self-Image is the gate-keeper, allowing access or denying access to your talents and ultimately to the achievement of your goals.
It makes no difference what the goal is, if it is not consistent with the image you hold of yourself, it is not going to happen.
A great picture of Self-Image can be illustrated by this little exercise:

1. Place a dot in the middle of a clean piece of paper
2. Make a dotted line box around the dot about one inch on each side
3. Make a solid lined box around the dot and smaller box, about five inches on each side.

Now the "dot" represents you, the small, dotted line box represents the image you have of yourself and the much larger, solid line box represents your potential (limited only by your physical limitations).
All too frequently we allow a negative or limiting self-image to limit our achievements.
Working to improve your Self-Image is fundamental to getting better. One of the best ways to improve your Self-Image is through self-talk. Two phrases demonstrate the value of self-talk. They are, "That's just me" and "I can be all I choose t be!" E.g. When confronted about being late for work you response is "I'm always late to everything", guess what, you will be. On the other hand if you talk to yourself as if your were known for arriving early because you believe in showing respect for other and the rules, you will move toward that goal and eventually it will become a new habit.
What is your Self-Image? Are you living in that little box without knowing the benefits outside the dotted lines. Build a Self-Image that expands the box.