Once upon a time there was an Emperor who always felt good about himself when he wore the fanciest clothes in the land. He would prance around in all his finery in front of all the townspeople whenever he had something new and spectacular to wear.
Since he was the richest man around, he could afford to buy any clothes he wanted. Two crooked men heard about the Emperor and decided that they would trick him. They told the Emperor that they could make him the finest clothes in the land made of the finest fabric that could be found. They “showed” the Emperor a sample of the fabric but there was nothing there. He couldn’t see anything. They told him that only very intelligent people could see the fabric. The Emperor didn’t want anyone to know that he couldn’t see the fabric because then the men would think he was stupid, so he gave them the go-ahead.
The fake tailors went about their work. They pretended to make his fabric even though there was nothing there. Every time the Emperor sent someone to go and see how his clothes were coming along, they came back with a report that the clothes were looking magnificent. These people also did not want to look stupid.
After a week or so the “clothes were finally ready”. The Emperor announced to the townsfolk that he would be having a parade to display his new outfit. The fake tailors helped the Emperor get dressed in his “fabulous new outfit”. The townspeople lined the streets and the Emperor started walking past all the people in his new “outfit”. Unfortunately, he was really naked. He thought that he must be stupid so he figured that’s why he couldn’t see the special fabric.
Although everybody saw the Emperor in all his nakedness, they didn’t say a word. They had heard about the fabric and they also didn’t want to show that they were stupid. They all wished they could see the real clothes that he wore. They all believed they were stupid.
A child who was in the crowd shouted out “Why is the Emperor naked?”. Suddenly everyone realised that the Emperor really was naked and the Emperor realised it too. He realised he had been tricked! But what he didn’t realise is that he had tricked himself. He had spent his life believing that he was stupid and he didn’t want anyone to prove this. He also had a belief that he was only good enough if he had spectacular clothes or if he was better than anyone else.
This is pseudo self esteem, which goes up and down according to outside influences. If the Emperor had true Self Esteem, he would never have hired the fake tailors to start off with and he wouldn’t have needed the fanciest clothes in the land to feel good about himself. Although this is an extreme case of low self esteem, most of us fall into similar traps (like saying yes when we really want to say no). The Emperor - like you and I - made decisions about himself when he was a child, based on his circumstances, and his behaviours are governed by these subconscious thoughts on a daily basis.
If you want to find out more about enhancing or changing your Self Esteem please reply to this blog or have a look at my website to get more information about upcoming courses. Our next course starts on 29 April 2014.
I wish you well.
Eve
www.warmlife.co.za
Since he was the richest man around, he could afford to buy any clothes he wanted. Two crooked men heard about the Emperor and decided that they would trick him. They told the Emperor that they could make him the finest clothes in the land made of the finest fabric that could be found. They “showed” the Emperor a sample of the fabric but there was nothing there. He couldn’t see anything. They told him that only very intelligent people could see the fabric. The Emperor didn’t want anyone to know that he couldn’t see the fabric because then the men would think he was stupid, so he gave them the go-ahead.
The fake tailors went about their work. They pretended to make his fabric even though there was nothing there. Every time the Emperor sent someone to go and see how his clothes were coming along, they came back with a report that the clothes were looking magnificent. These people also did not want to look stupid.
After a week or so the “clothes were finally ready”. The Emperor announced to the townsfolk that he would be having a parade to display his new outfit. The fake tailors helped the Emperor get dressed in his “fabulous new outfit”. The townspeople lined the streets and the Emperor started walking past all the people in his new “outfit”. Unfortunately, he was really naked. He thought that he must be stupid so he figured that’s why he couldn’t see the special fabric.
Although everybody saw the Emperor in all his nakedness, they didn’t say a word. They had heard about the fabric and they also didn’t want to show that they were stupid. They all wished they could see the real clothes that he wore. They all believed they were stupid.
A child who was in the crowd shouted out “Why is the Emperor naked?”. Suddenly everyone realised that the Emperor really was naked and the Emperor realised it too. He realised he had been tricked! But what he didn’t realise is that he had tricked himself. He had spent his life believing that he was stupid and he didn’t want anyone to prove this. He also had a belief that he was only good enough if he had spectacular clothes or if he was better than anyone else.
This is pseudo self esteem, which goes up and down according to outside influences. If the Emperor had true Self Esteem, he would never have hired the fake tailors to start off with and he wouldn’t have needed the fanciest clothes in the land to feel good about himself. Although this is an extreme case of low self esteem, most of us fall into similar traps (like saying yes when we really want to say no). The Emperor - like you and I - made decisions about himself when he was a child, based on his circumstances, and his behaviours are governed by these subconscious thoughts on a daily basis.
If you want to find out more about enhancing or changing your Self Esteem please reply to this blog or have a look at my website to get more information about upcoming courses. Our next course starts on 29 April 2014.
I wish you well.
Eve
www.warmlife.co.za