Glow Chat: Yasmin Colindres
Part of our work at Glow Within is to highlight various individuals with unique and impactful stories. As an organization, we value diverse experiences and believe that there is always something to learn from one another. We came up with The Glow Chats series as a way of featuring a broad range of women while bringing light to their work and advocacies.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and therefore, it is the perfect time to reflect on the powerful connection between self-concept and mental health. Glow Within hopes that while reading this blog we can all take a moment to appreciate the wonder of our individual selves and learn more about how self concept influences the way we see the world around us.
This blog will explore self-concept while reflecting on the idea that true radiance originates internally and our inner light should be allowed to shine forth and brighten the world around us. With that being said, there is a large range of human experiences and the nature of our internal worlds is very intricate.These experiences influence both our self-concept and our mental health.
Glow Within is extremely grateful that we have collaborated with Psychologist, Counsellor and Influencer, Yasmin Colindres for this blog. Yasmin has consistently brought attention to the topic of mental health through her social media and work. During this blog, we dive deeper into her thoughts and insights on some of the most intriguing questions surrounding self-concept.
What factors influence your self-concept? Is it based on your relationships, experiences, cultural background, or something else?
Yasmin explained to us that “self-concept is built upon your own understanding of your identity. So for me personally my self-concept is intertwined with my belief in being one with God. I see myself as a divine creation, brought into existence by God's will, and this shapes how I view myself and the world around me.” Everyone’s own self-concept is shaped and formed through your individual beliefs, and understanding of the world. As a counsellor, Yasmin works to encourage clients to see themselves as the protagonist in their own life and that they have the power to take control of their own thoughts and steer them towards a positive direction. Yasmin said “self-esteem plays a crucial role in others including my own self-concept, the two are closely related.” Yasmin holds the belief that everything about a person is a reflection of their inner self, and not influenced by external factors such as relationships, cultural background, financial status, etc. While these things may be present in individuals’ lives, they do not define who we are at our core.
Have you ever experienced a discrepancy between your actual self and your ideal self?
“Yes, working on yourself and loving who you are with all your flaws is constant work. Working on your self-concept is an everyday practice, it requires time, intention and effort.” Yasmin reassures us that even when you feel like the best version of yourself, and you dedicate time in improving your self-concept, there are moments where self- sabotaging thoughts can come to mind and that’s normal. Yasmin shares with us that “sometimes I have negative thoughts like “I am not enough” or “everything is going bad”, but that is part of human nature to feel like this sometimes.” However, Yasmin advocates that everyone has the ability to choose what we want in life and how we respond to negative thoughts and feelings.
Where do negative thoughts like “I am not being enough” stem from?
Yasmin explains that “all of it originates from the beliefs that exist within you, the environment you’re in, and the habits you adopt.” Yasmin used the example of a toxic family dynamic, if one or both parents use coercive language to express their emotions, a child growing up in such an environment may normalize and internalize these interactions. Similarly, if you’re friends with someone who has not worked on their self-concept and tends to be overly negative, you may adopt their negative habits and beliefs. Yasmin explains that “thoughts such as "I am not enough" can simply start as a passing thought, but if you allow it to become a belief and repeat it often, it can become your reality, and you will start to live and embody it.”
As you begin to believe your negative thoughts, your mindset and behaviours start to perform as that belief. For example, you begin to walk and present yourself as if you’re not enough, and begin to allow others to start treating you like you’re not enough. Your subconscious mind transforms thoughts into beliefs into actions. Therefore, having a strong, secure self-concept will help protect yourself from having these draining thoughts and stop them from ultimately affecting your mental health.
Yasmin wants to ensure everyone remembers that not everything your mind tells you is true. “Your mind may express thoughts momentarily, but it is up to you to decide whether to let them control your truth and your emotions.” Yasmin explains to transform negative beliefs into positive ones, you must be disciplined. If you have lived in a world where toxic dynamics formed your reality for years, it may be challenging at first as your mind will try to bring you back to those memories and thoughts. However, you are capable of building yourself back up and creating a new, healthier version of yourself. There may be days when you don't feel like working on your self-concept, but it's up to you to prevent your old destructive self from taking over. It’s all about creating healthy lifestyle habits that will foster positive emotions from you and encourage you to fully accept yourself as you are. It is a personal commitment and a daily practice that you choose to adopt as a lifestyle for your own self-improvement.
Can you improve your self-concept? Are there specific strategies or techniques that can help you develop a more positive and realistic view of yourself?
Yasmin reassures us that everyone can improve their self-concept, you just have to make the conscious decision to put forward the effort to.
Yasmin explains that there are a couple questions you want to answer when beginning your self-concept journey. “The first question is asking yourself who you currently are? Then ask yourself, how do you want to feel? And finally, what do you want for your life? Once you can imagine your ideal self, mindset, and life, begin to make actionable goals to stick to this.” Quite frequently, our mind can trick us into thinking that we are not in control; however, we have a lot more power then we even know. Although it may not be easy, it is possible to take control of our thoughts.
There are multiple ways we all can work to improve our mind and how we treat ourselves. Words of affirmation can help reinforce our authentic selves and remind us of how we truly want to be. Complementing ourselves is a very simple way you can provide yourself with positivity and recognize your strengths. As well, engaging in activities that are beneficial for your well-being, such as working out to release natural endorphins or listening to music that motivates you, and lifts you up. Additionally, it is crucial to be mindful of what you say to others, what you watch on TV/media, and who you surround yourself with. Learn to set boundaries to protect your self growth. If people close to you regularly make inappropriate, negative, or belittling comments about you, it would be best to distance yourself from them. You want to surround yourself with individuals that will be part of your personal growth, and push you towards a positive self-concept.
These all can have an impact on your self-perception and the progress you make in self-concept. Yasmin encourages everyone to “decide every day to choose yourself, and acknowledge that you are worthy of everything you want in life.” Yasmin reminds us that “negative emotions and self-sabotaging thoughts can come and that’s okay. However, aim to reach a point where you are not internalising them as a feeling or your identity. This approach will help you regain control, and provide you the power to create your own truth.”
We hope opening up this conversation with Psychologist and Counsellor Yasmin Colindres has taught you what self-concept is, its impact on your overall well-being and how you can personally work on a greater self-understanding. Ultimately, there are many layers that play a role in your mental health, but having a strong self-concept is one building block that improves your mental health and overall quality of life.
Thank you Yasmin for your knowledge, time and collaboration. We appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important topic and we are grateful you’ve shared this to our Glow Community.
Follow Yasmin Colindres
TikTok - itsyasminjasmine
Instagram: itsyasminejasmine.
Email: yasminnicollecolindresduron@yahoo.com
Feel free to reach out to her for more information on her professional counselling services.
Written by Amely Rivera
Edited by Claire Connop
