Developing Self-Esteem: The Smart Goals - Assignment Example

Developing Self-Esteem I. Setting the SMART Goal In six weeks, I will improve my self-esteem. Admittedly, it would be difficult to quantify how much I have improved my self esteem in a given period of time. Setting the parameters to determine progression in terms of self-esteem are often in abstract that assigning them values for quantification seemed to difficult. To set the SMART goal to improve my self-esteem, it would be necessary to define what self-esteem first and from those characteristics, identify the subsets related to self-esteem and design method of assigning values to objectively monitor progression in the improvement of self-esteem. Oakes et a defined self-esteem as “emphasize efective self-regard . . . feeling of affection toward neself (779). Others define it as an overall judgment one makes about one’s worth as a person. But regardless how it is defined, self esteem includes affective and cognitive components. “High self esteem people feel good about themselves and think they have many positive qualities” (779). On the reverse, low self-esteem people hold ambivalent feelings toward themselves and are less certain that they have many certain positive qualities (Baumeister, Tice & Hutton, 1989 qtd in Oakes et al 779). To this, Anjala and Worthen added the specifics of body image and self image which comprises self-esteem (90) Inferring from these definitions in setting up a SMART Goal in developing my self esteem, I will initially target a 20% increase in positive self esteem, progressing to 40% in the second week, 60% in the third week and 80% increase in self-esteem the fourth week of assessing the development of my self-esteem. In organizing these criteria, we can then say that they fall into two main categories which are internal subsets and external subsets of characteristic that contribute to enhancing self-esteem. II. The efficacy of the SMART Goal The SMART Goal is effective because it is grounded on reality and the parameters were conservative. It is not an overly optimistic goal that is difficult to achieve that would make one eventually abandon the plan. Rather, it is composed of step by step plan that only requires realistic efforts that could be done consistently. Inferring from the definition of Oakes et al and and Anjala, I will categorize the componenets of self esteem as internal and external. Internal are those whom Oakes said to feel good about myself and which is triggered by a positive stimuli that helps us cope positively with the challenges of life(Tariq 23). The external stimuli are those that Meitzes and Mutran called to be body image that includes health, hygiene and grooming (46). To achieve these goals I will engage in activities that are consistent with the internal and external components about self esteem. With regard to the internal factor of feeling good about myself, I will begin making more friends and spending more time with family and friends which Tariq recommeneds to be good in ones self-image . I will also engage in hobbies that interests me for me to feel good about myself. With regard to external factors, I will improve my physical appearance, health and grooming. This can be achieved by taking time to buy clothes that matches and appropriate, taking time to take a bath, see a dentist and do some personal grooming. With regard to health, I will engage in sport that I like to keep me fit and healthy. Looking good is important in enhancing one’s self esteem according to Koop as it reflects how good we feel about ourselves (45). III. Criteria for improvement It was earlier mentioned that it is difficult to set the criterial of improvement in improving self-esteem because of its abstract and relative nature. But having categorized the sub-sets that makes up an improved self-esteem which are internal and external factors, we can then set the criterial for determining improvement of self-esteem. This can come in a daily journal with a set of questionnaires that ask activities and emotions related to self-esteem stimuli. This will be then tabulated in a week and we can indicate if we felt better and looked better than otherwise. If the response is skewed to feeling better and looking better than otherwise, then we can say that I have improved my self-esteem. It is important however that such improvement in self-esteem is measurable to make the plan more objective. SMART Goals defined as Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely. To explain further the SMART Goals to be attainable; Goal of developing self esteem is SPECIFIC because it concretizes what I want to achieve or attain. Goal of developing self esteem is measurable because it defines what my goals and targets which are 20% improvement in self-esteem in the first week, progressing to 40%, to 60% until 80% improvement in self esteem. Goal of developing self esteem is attainable because the activities involved in achieving it are relatively easy and only requires minimal effort and some commitment. Activities involve making new friends and spending more time with family are very easy to do. Taking time for hygiene and grooming is also enjoyable to do while playing sport that I like requires minimal commitment. The key here is consistency for these goals to be attained. The criteria in setting the goal of developing self esteem are relevant because these are the things that I normally do only that this time, I have to be consistent about it to attain my SMART Goals. The endeavor to improve and develop my self-esteem is also timely. A period of four weeks has been set to measure the improvement in self-esteem. IV. Possible obstacles and hindrances in attaining SMART Goal The most common obstancles and hindrances why certain goals are not achieved or met be it in improving self-esteem or other endeavors is that the individual lacks the commitment goal that was set. Such, before even setting the SMART goal, the individual must first ask himself or herself if he or she can commit to a program wholeheartedly. If the individual hesitates, it is already very likely that the SMART goal will not be attained. Such, it is important to be committed to attain the SMART Goals. The second identified most commond hindrance in attaining the SMART Goal is that the goal itself was planned and written enthusiastically where the goals that were set did not consider the reality of the person who is going to commit to the program. For example, it would be an unrealistic goal to lose 20 pounds in two weeks in as much that we would like to. When goals like these are set, the individual will likely abandon the plan knowing that it would be difficult if not impossible to attain. To overcome these obstacles and hindrances, I should be psychologically and emotionally ready to commit to the goal that I will set in the SMART goal. Second is that the goal that must be set considers the reality of my situation that indeed the set goals are attainable. V. Result of the SMART Goal As anticipated, there was a mark improvement in my self esteem. In the first week, there was an improvement of 20% in the first week, 40% in the second week until 80% in the last week as shown in the table below. The factors that I can attribute to the success of the SMART goals is the fact that the criteria I set are the activities that I can do only with the difference that I have to do them often. These criteria includes making friends which I have been doing, spending time with family, taking time with grooming and playing my favorite sport more often. At first, there was a challenge because I do not do them regularly even if I can do them. But with a commitment to do them, the activities get easier everytime I try that my progression in improving my self-esteem naturally increased every week. Works Cited Koop, Todd. Enhancing self esteem. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2004 Krishen, Anjala S., and Dominique Worthen. "Body Image Dissatisfaction and Self-Esteem: A Consumer-Centric Exploration and a Proposed Research Agenda." Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction and Complaining Behavior 24 (2011): 90-105. ProQuest. 1 Apr. 2013 . Reitzes, Donald C., and Elizabeth J. Mutran. "Self and Health: Factors that Encourage Self-Esteem and Functional Health."The Journals of Gerontology 61B.1 (2006): S44-51. ProQuest. 1 Apr. 2013 . Oakes, Mark A., Jonathon D. Brown, and Huajian Cai. "Implicit and Explicit Self-Esteem: Measure for Measure." Social Cognition 26.6 (2008): 778-90. ProQuest. 1 Apr. 2013 . Tariq, Qudsia. "Close Friendship and its Relationship with Self-Esteem, Anxiety and Life Satisfaction." Pakistan Journal of Psychology 42.1 (2011): n/a. ProQuest. 1 Apr. 2013 . Read More