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Philosophy of Self-Happiness
My philosophy of self-happiness is that "we" are responsible for our happiness, and people within our social and family systems can only "add" to this blissful state of being. This philosophical stance resonates with me because I believe happiness is "internal" and created within oneself. However, both men and women struggle with self-esteem and are conflicted with embracing a true sense of self that typically unfolds in the adolescence stage of development. If this developmental milestone is not resolved by adulthood, people tend to exhibit poor self-esteem and lack self-identity because they cannot perceive their self-worth. The absence of self-identity and self-esteem sows the seeds of inner turmoil and entanglement within people's relationships because they subconsciously seek happiness "outside" themselves. Yet, self-worth is an "innate trait" that every individual is born with, and once we can recognize our worth as an individual, there will "no longer" be a perplexing need to compare, compete, or seek the validation of others due to the "manifestation" of self-happiness.
On the contrary, self-confidence is "not" an innate personality characteristic but rather a human trait that "requires" development as we evolve, grow, and mature throughout our life experiences. This "exhilarating" perception of well-being fosters "extraordinary" ambition that allows individuals to trust their judgment regarding personal qualities and abilities, promoting self-gratification. But, attaining the fulfillment of self-confidence requires goal-setting, facing our fears, and self-validation of what we have accomplished thus far. All the same, self-confidence is a positive, powerful, and intense "feeling that comes from within" and exemplifies an "undoubtful sense of knowing."
Based on this philosophical stance, an "emphasis" is placed on these self-concepts during my therapeutic practice. So, inherently, I assist my clientele in exploring and identifying their self-identity while acknowledging and embracing their self-worth, which ultimately builds self-esteem and self-confidence. Finally, once this transformation of the "unique self" unveils, clients can flourish mentally and emotionally through self-love, for this meaningful insight into self-discovery is the "desired" goal we all strive and yearn for, that is, "self-happiness."
Dr. Angela M. Jackson