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2000 Volunteer Leader Training Guide
Older is Okay
Tips for Improving An Older Woman’s Self-Esteem
Handout 2
Printer Friendly Version (PDF)
It is sometimes difficult to feel good about yourself if you are
an elderly woman. We see young beautiful women in most of the television shows
and commercials. Most of the typical women’s magazines have lovely, young,
skinny models on their covers. Inside the magazines we find articles that tell
us that we need to look better than we do. The popular press encourages us to
try cosmetic surgery, run miles to stay thin, and go through complete make-overs
to be okay.
But, older women are okay just as they are. We can improve our
self-esteem. We can feel better about ourselves, but we are basically okay.
Check these tips to improve your self-esteem.
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Decide that you are going to think more positive
thoughts about yourself as an older woman.
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Say positive things about yourself aloud to
others. For example, say that you are a good cook. Don’t
emphasize your faults, such as saying that you don’t cook as
well as you did years ago.
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Get rid of the negative thoughts that pop into
your head. One way to do that is to follow up negative thoughts
with positive ones. For example, you think to yourself, "I can’t
find anything in the store to wear because nothing fits me
anymore. I hate the way I look." As soon as you have that
thought, say to yourself, "I may not be able to wear what I did
when I was younger, but I will keep looking until I do find
something that I think is pretty."
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Tell yourself that it is okay to
be__________(your age).
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Allow yourself to accept compliments from
others. Just say "thank you."
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Make a specific positive change in the way you
act. Improve one behavior at a time.
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Look at your relationships with others.
Strengthen a relationship that is important to you.
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Give and get more hugs.
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Write positive notes to yourself and put them up
where you will see them.
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Improve communications with others. Start by
working hard on communicating better with one other person.
Betty Youngman, Extension Specialist - Family Life
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