An Update on Self Esteem for People with Tourette Syndrome

I read an article from the Tourette Syndrome website in the USA about uplifting your self- esteem. I talked about it before and i decided to post this entry as a follow-up about that personally because I find this also very relevant. Furthermore, the information that i will be sharing with you came from a TS diagnosed himself, Paul Devore, who despite his struggles about Tourette syndrome managed to become so successful in his life.

In the article, he wrote many things about himself but what I want to share are the tools that he enumerated to help build self- esteem. According to him, the following are the tools that you can use.

1. BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE
Focus on your strengths and not your weaknesses.

2. SET OBJECTIVES
Find and set the importance goals in your life.

3. BRING VALUE TO OTHERS
Focus on the positive, hang out with winners!

4. THINK OPTIMISTIC
Surely bad things happen in this world, but respond positively to it!

5. IMPROVE THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GOOD AT

There may be other ways by which you can improve or enhance your self- esteem, you might be able to get the strategies deep down inside you. Another thing that struck me through reading his article was when he said that "SCHOOLS TEND TO FOCUS ON THE WEAKNESS".
He said that this might be different today but for many years this has been the tendency. The author claimed that when he was in grade school, he couldn't draw much. His teacher was always giving him exercises to work on his drawing skills. Most teachers go away with the weakness by letting the student work on something that possibly might not be his or her interest at all. The end result is forgetting about what the student is really good at that could be used to his full advantage. Paul Devore even said and I quote:

"...if we focus on those things we’re good at and we like, we have a possibility, the potential, to not only enjoy our life but to develop a passion for what we do. And that is, a passion is, how you become excellent at something."

6. PROJECT YOUR BEST QUALITIES
Take pride in your strengths, accept compliments

7. NEVER MAKE A PROMISE UNLESS YOU CAN KEEP IT
According to Paul , this is a credibility builder. This will also build your reputation for other people.

8. CHANNEL PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF LAYERING THEM
Don't waste time thinking about problems one after the other (layering), instead focus on each one, assess and give solutions to it until you have one problem solved (channeling). Take your time into it.

9. LEARN AND GROW
"How can you make life better for people with Tourette Syndrome? Give praise to others at every opportunity. You deserve high self-esteem. You don’t have to be perfect. There is no need for perfection. You don’t have to be good at everything. Just make the best of your strengths. Reduce the focus on your weakness. Identify and work on your unique abilities. Pursue them and achieve great things. Feel good about who you are because you are terrific."