Beyond Doubt: A Physician's Guide to Entrepreneurial Self-Esteem

Do you remember the last time you experienced self-doubt in your business? It happens to the best of us from time to time. When it happens, it can really do a number on your self-esteem. But what if I told you there's a surprising method to boost your confidence and revolutionize your income?

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Gary Sprouse, a retired primary care physician and author of "Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress." Our conversation for the Live. Love. Engage. podcast unveiled some powerful insights that I'm excited to share with you.

The 50-Point Wake-Up Call

Dr. Sprouse introduced me to a game-changing concept he calls the "50-point wake-up." It's a simple yet profound way to shift your perspective and boost your self-esteem from the moment you open your eyes. Here's how it works:

• Still alive? That's 10 points!
• Food in the refrigerator? Another 10 points.
• Running water? 10 more points.
• Living in a safe house? You guessed it, 10 points.
• Loved ones in your life? 10 points.

Before you've even started your day, you've already accumulated 50 points of positivity. This practice helps create a foundation of gratitude and self-worth that can carry you through even the most challenging days.

Reframing Your Self-Esteem

Dr. Sprouse emphasized the importance of accurately assessing our achievements. Many women entrepreneurs tend to downplay our successes while magnifying our perceived failures. This imbalance can lead to a skewed self-image and lower self-esteem.

To combat this, try this exercise:

• Write down all your characteristics and achievements.
• Assign points to each item, giving equal weight to both positive and negative aspects.
• Review the list and notice how your positives likely outweigh the negatives.

This practice can help you develop a more balanced and accurate view of yourself, boosting your confidence in the process.

The Three Pillars of Self-Esteem

During our interview, Dr. Sprouse broke down self-esteem into three key components:

1. Self-worth: How you feel about yourself as a person.

2. Self-respect: How you feel about your actions and behaviors.

3. Self-efficacy: Your belief in your ability to handle future tasks and challenges.

Understanding these distinctions can help you pinpoint areas where you might need to focus your attention and growth.

Negotiating with Confidence

Negotiation skills are crucial for men and women in business. Dr. Sprouse shared some valuable insights on how you can approach negotiations with confidence:

• Build your self-esteem: The stronger your self-esteem, the more confidently you'll approach negotiations.
• Focus on issues, not people: Keep discussions centered on objectives and solutions rather than personal attacks.
• Use objective measures: Establish clear, measurable goals to guide your negotiations.

Taming the Worry Monster

Worry can be a major obstacle in both personal and professional settings. Dr. Sprouse offered a powerful tool called the "worry organizer" to help manage anxiety:

• Identify what you're worried about.
• Understand why you're worried.
• Assess the likelihood and potential impact of the worry coming true.
• Develop strategies to prevent or mitigate the worry.
• Create a plan for what to do if the worry becomes reality.

By writing down your worries and addressing them systematically, you can reduce their power over you and approach challenges with a clearer mind.

Embracing Realistic Optimism

Finally, Dr. Sprouse introduced the concept of "realistic optimism" – focusing on positive outcomes while still acknowledging potential challenges. This balanced approach can help you maintain a positive outlook without ignoring important considerations.

As spiritually-minded entrepreneurs, we have the power to shape our reality through our thoughts and beliefs. By implementing these strategies, we can boost our self-esteem, approach negotiations with confidence, and create the success we desire in our businesses and lives.

Remember, you have the tools within you to overcome stress, self-doubt, and worry. It's time to step into your power and embrace your full potential as an entrepreneur.

About Dr. Gary Sprouse

Dr. Gary Sprouse is a retired primary care physician who practiced in Maryland for 38 years. He graduated from George Washington University Medical School in the top 10% of his class and is a member of Mensa. He has taken everything he has learned about stress reduction and crafted his first book, Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress. He aims to have everyone living in their Happy Place.

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