Acne & Confidence

Pegasus NLP Mind-Body Health Site

The practical applications of NLP in your life

Updated 06 September 2008

Self confidence and acne

Query: Hi, I’m a 16 year old male with bad acne. How can I get self-confidence? Please help me.

Response: I'm assuming that you've tried all the usual remedies, therapies, etc. to deal with the physical acne symptoms. And that you're on a virtually grease- and fat-free diet, eating huge amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables, and getting lots of rest and outdoor exercise. (If not, then you might like to consider these - according to some people they do help.)

Next, you're right in approaching it the way you have. Go for the self esteem instead of feeling bad about having acne. It's likely to be around for a year or two so you might as well get on with enjoying life, meanwhile. Instead of waiting for things to change.

(You sound like a fighter who gets on with things, after thinking them through. And, btw, forgive me if some of this sounds a bit patronising. It's not meant to - but I don't know how much you know or don't know.)

Some while ago a tutor of mine was talking to the group. Telling us about a girl in his class at school. He said she was plain which, he explained, means not very good looking.

He said she was really plain! But she didn't know it - so what used to happen was she acted like she was a great-looker - because that's how she felt. And the other funny thing, he said, was that because she acted that way the boys responded to her as if she were a great looker. She was one of the most popular in class - always surrounded by boys.

I've known lots of good looking guys who felt ugly. And because they felt that way, they acted as if they were, and never very confident or popular with others - so the reverse is true too.

What's all this got to do with you and self esteem and acne? Figure it out!

Hint. People will respond to you based on how you feel about yourself.

How's this for starters! Calculate how much of the surface area of your body has spots. What percentage? It'll likely be a quite small figure. So decide now that you will not let that small percentage of your skin surface cloud your approach to your life for the next year or two! That, whatever it takes, you're going to have a great time - do great things - and get on with living en

Next look at what is under that skin. Look, perhaps to developing your fitness and your muscles. I hate the term but "scientific studies have shown" that people who work on these two areas significantly increase their self esteem and confidence. (And, who knows, by doing this you'll be changing your body's chemistry and it just *might* affect the acne, too. No guarantees - but nothing to lose and lots to gain.

The next stage is the way you use your mind - how you think, what you think about, etc. It's a whole other important area. This message is mainly to give you a few ideas to get started with. When you've thought it over get back to me with what you think and I'll know where to go from there. Best wishes, Reg

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