Self-esteem is our perception of ourselves, either positive or negative. It is a reflection of our attitude towards life. It could either be the motivator that pushes us to the top, or the critic that hinders us. In essence, self-esteem plays a gargantuan part on who we are now and who we want to be in the future.

With high self-esteem, you have the will to succeed. You try new and daring things and take more risks to explore and learn. High self-esteem lets you make the most out of life.

Low self-esteem, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. You'll find yourself hiding behind a shell, afraid to move out of your comfort zone. You'll find yourself missing opportunities because you're afraid to take the first step and you question your abilities. Low self-esteem leaves you with a low opinion of yourself and you may feel unwanted and inadequate.

You know you have low self-esteem if you:

• Feel you can't do anything right;
• Prefer not to try to avoid criticism and failure;
• Have a hard time meeting new people and making friends;
• Are terrified of being rejected;
• Feel foolish, stupid, and embarrassed around other people;
• Constantly crave the approval of others;
• Feel the need to prove your worth and please everybody.

If you have any of these feelings and habits, you have to realize that it's not right. Self-esteem is all about habits, and habits stick. The good news is no one is without hope. If you decide on a positive change, you can turn bad habits into good and raise your self-esteem. You can change your life.

Elevating your self-esteem is like changing your destiny. If you're tired of self-hatred and the feeling of worthlessness, I am willing to give you a hand.

In our sessions, we'll work towards:

• Changing and eliminating your negative thoughts about yourself;
• Healing old wounds of hurt and rejection;
• Learning to be more self-assertive, saying "no", and asking for your own needs;
• Accepting yourself and appreciating your unique goodness;
• Giving yourself credit for your achievements.

I believe in helping people overcome difficulties on a personal level. Together, we will find the approach that will help you the most. The techniques used in our sessions include:

• Cognitive-behavioral - to help you become aware of your thoughts and their effect on your behavior and to change habitual ways of thinking to improve your state of mind;
• Psychotherapy - to help you understand emotional issues and their roots in the past to promote your emotional growth;
• Energy psychology or EFT - to help you neutralize your cravings, negative emotions, and limiting beliefs;
• Hypnosis - to help you change unhealthy habits and adopt new ones and to improve motivation in achieving goals;
• Guided imagery - to facilitate your ability to accept new behaviors, better choices, and healthier ideas.

If you are ready to move forward, give me a call for a FREE 30-minute consultation with no obligations. You can start to take control of your life and force a positive change.

Marina Burova has had extensive experiences in helping overweight people successfully lose weight and change their attitude and self image. If you want more information, you can contact us or call 416-617-9846 for an appointment. Our offices are in the Toronto Healing Arts Centre, 717 Bloor St. W at Christie subway station.