It’s been three years since I consciously started changing my self-concept. The last year I’ve put the most effort in and have seen great results and so have people around me. 

 

Self-concept describes the picture one has of themselves constructed from the beliefs one holds about oneself and the responses of others. Basically, what you would say if someone asked you to describe yourself?

 

Now why is this so significant I would write a whole article about it?

 

Because your identity or self-concept shapes how you view the world, how you make decisions, and determines the actions you take. 

 

In Psychology, this is called the self-fulfilling prophecy. Your thoughts about yourself create your reality. 

 

If you think you’re just not an athletic person, you’ll never be just because you said so. If you say you’re just not a person that gets good grades, you’ll never achieve that. You sabotage yourself with your beliefs. Since you don’t think you’re an athletic person you don’t go to the gym or participate in any sport because that’s not what a non-athletic person would do. It goes against your identity.

 

Now your identity is not set in stone. You can change.

But no one can change that except you. 

 

Your identity shapes your habits, routines, actions, and decisions. And is at the same time a direct reflection of them. It’s a reaffirming cycle that you need to break out of to change. 

 

The old you takes actions based on their identity and the actions reaffirm the old you. 

 

To create the new you, we can disrupt two factors of this cycle: the actions you take and the beliefs you hold about yourself.

 

 

DECIDE HOW YOU WANT TO BE

 

Before you can change you’ll have to get clear in which direction you want to go. Who do you want to transform into?

 

Grab your journal and start with:

I am a person/woman/man who…

 

(is an athletic person, gets good grades, eats healthy, is a calm person, heals herself/himself, etc… -> the more specific the better)

 

 

YOUR ACTIONS

 

Now that you have a vision of this “transformed version of you”, find to every “I am” at least three habits, no matter how small, such a person has. 

 

I am a person who gets good grades. My habits are: consistently studying (two hours a day), immediately doing homework as it’s assigned, organizing notes, asking questions, learning about study methods, …

 

From this list you’ve written, take one or two points and make them a habit. Have a way of tracking your habits. Then you have a visual representation of this new version of you. It’s proof you’re shifting your identity every day. 

 

Once these habits are a stable component in your life add a few more. Your habits and routines determine your success and who you are.

 

 

YOUR WORDS

 

Actions matter more than words but words can be an inspiration to act. One way you can shape your self-concept is by changing your thoughts. Whenever you think to yourself: I am dumb, I can’t do this, I‘m not that kind of person, etc…

correct yourself: I am smart (because of this action, this achievement, this habit…), I don’t know how to do this but I will figure it out as I move forward, I’m becoming this person (because of the actions I take and the decisions I make).

 

Additionally, affirmations can be helpful to change your beliefs. Speak this new version of you into reality every day. Do this in front of a mirror or if that feels ridiculous just speak it into reality anywhere you feel comfortable.

 

With every day reaffirming, you transform more and more into this better version of yourself. By nurturing your self-concept you will grow into the best version of yourself and the corresponding habits, actions, and decisions will become second nature.