An Introduction:
In the course of our daily activities, we all have to deal with peaks and valleys in our confidence and self-esteem.
There are things we want to improve in our lives — ways we seek to better express our best selves. But then we may encounter false impressions from the outside world about what perfection is or should look like — physically, mentally, or spiritually — or about where we need to look to find appreciation or meaning.
As we face life’s challenges, or even our own spiritual goals, it is possible to acquire a mistaken feeling of not “measuring up.”
But Paramahansa Yogananda would remind us: “Even while striving to improve yourself, learn to stand alone, secure in your own virtues and self-worth.”
The ability to do this, great ones have told us for millennia, really comes from only one place — within, from our higher Self. That is, look for support and guidance and love from a Divinity that is not apart from us, but the very nature of our being.
“You are a spark of an Eternal Flame,” Paramahansaji lets us know. “You can hide the spark, but you can never destroy it.”
Doesn’t just hearing that lift you up? Would you like to absorb more encouraging wisdom for striding through life with real self-confidence?
From the talks and writings of Paramahansa Yogananda:
Behind the light in every little bulb is a great dynamic current; beneath every little wave is the vast ocean, which has become the many waves. So it is with human beings.
Do not in any way minimize the power of the little wave that has been battered by the big waves. Somebody needs to say to it, “Little wave, what’s the matter with you? Don’t you see that the whole ocean is behind you? You are a bulge of the great ocean.” Don’t look to your little body; look within.
What you are is much greater than anything or anyone else you have ever yearned for. God is manifest in you in a way that He is not manifest in any other human being. Your face is unlike anyone else’s, your soul is unlike anyone else’s, you are sufficient unto yourself; for within your soul lies the greatest treasure of all — God.
By realizing God within you, develop a divine, humble self-confidence founded on the conquering of your mortal weaknesses and upon real growing achievements — holding the consciousness that all your attainments come from the power you have borrowed from God. In this way you will be free from all inferiority and superiority complexes.
[An affirmation to practice]: “I have buried dead disappointments in the cemeteries of yesterday. Today I will plow the garden of life with my new creative efforts. Therein I will sow seeds of wisdom, health, prosperity, and happiness. I will water them with self-confidence and faith, and will wait for the Divine to give me the rightful harvest.”
We invite you to also read “How Yogis Contact the Source of Self-Esteem” — an excerpt from the Self-Realization magazine article “Maintaining Our Divine Connection While Living in the Material World” by Brother Chidananda, president and spiritual head of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India.
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Essentially Self-Esteem emanates from a sense of Profundity, Depth and Wisdom while being Fearless, Humble and Equanimous in all circumstances !
How do I get to view the blog of Chitananda and SRF teachings
Hello Sarah - We are on one of the blog posts right now - if you double click "blog" in the main menu you will be able to see all the posts, including those by Brother Chidananda. If you are looking for more information on the teachings, including the home study SRF Lessons, please visit: https://yogananda.org/teachings
If you can't find what you're looking for or would like some guidance, please feel free to contact us, and we'd be happy to help: https://yogananda.org/contact-us
Hello, I found this on the app (the one including my lessons) home page and don’t see blog anywhere. Am I accessing this from a different app that your talking about? Not very tech-savy! Haha!
Wonderful, empowering truths! Thank you, Guruji!
This helps a lot! Thank you 🙏🏻
This App is amazing!
No matter whatever the conditions and challenges that confront us, SRF/YSS will overcome and make it better than what it was; with the convocations as we used to know them- being a thing of the past, this App is thrown open to a world wide audience, at anytime and anywhere fulfilling our Guru’s prophecy that SRF/YSS will spread in all lands.
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So True! Jai Guru 🙏
I awoke today with such feelings of emptiness and of no self-worth; struggling to begin my morning. To find such inspiration to counter exactly what ailed me, precisely when I needed, is truly a blessing. Thank you, Guruji.
It is changing in my mind and giving more positive energy . Im not fluent speak English but I can understand little bit . So thank you for giving the opportunity.