Motoring One’s Way to Self-Esteem

Every one needs some sort of compass in the search for self; something to give direction and guide them from where they are in life to where they want to be. Without a compass many people may believe it is safer to stay with what is familiar, or to just accept what image others have of them, rather than risk rejection by following their own path. This fear is most often caused by a lack of self-esteem and generally leads to an identity crisis, or a feeling of uncertainty about how they feel about themselves. It can also result in a loss of one’s values, goals and purpose.

Self-esteem is the value a person places on herself. It is having a good opinion of oneself and includes having a realistic understanding of one’s strengths as well as weaknesses, and realizing that one’s positive qualities outweigh the negative qualities. It means believing that one is attractive and worthwhile. That one is a “good” person. Most importantly, having a high self-esteem (yet not being egotistical) means feeling that one is doing a good job and “measuring up” to personal expectations, re: behavior, appearance and character. If a teen believes she is a worthwhile person, she is more likely to make healthy decisions regarding her life.

How does one develop self-esteem? In many ways our accomplishments are what help us develop our self-worth. More than a “feel good” thing, self-esteem is about who we are, who we can potentially be. Self-esteem is also about getting balance in life. It is about learning to deal with life’s ups and downs, and to be prepared for the hard times that inevitably will come to all of us.

In many ways, self-esteem is fluid and variable, made up of different ingredients and different options for improvement. Those who are self-assured are more apt to take risks and try new things. True self-esteem comes from within, rather than from external phenomena. The outer stuff cannot give us a truly healthy self-image, and instead can leave us feeling empty, unfulfilled and unworthy on the inside. And, although poor self-image can prevent us from achieving and setting goals, lack of self-esteem does not always lead to failure.

Low self-esteem lies at the very heart of many teenage problems. Learning to drive a racecar and all that goes along with racing is very empowering; giving girls responsibility for their own achievements. For many teens, their feelings of self-esteem are threatened by extensive teasing, ridicule or criticism and can lead to depression and thoughts of suicide. All the more important to be able to have somewhere, or something that matters so they can express themselves and feel good about who they are.

Becoming involved in the world of sports is one way to help young adults form an identity, construct a set of values and an opinion of themselves. Because girls often lose self-esteem as they reach adolescence, starting early is even more beneficial.

Being an athlete teaches girls how to stay focused, and no better sport personifies this than auto racing. Involvement in motorsports enables girls to do better in their schoolwork. learn the value of balancing activities, family and social life, and discovering the importance of having a positive attitude. For those girls involved in motorsports from an early age, their entry and interest often starts with a parent or other family member who is already engaged in racing.

Parents know how valuable these qualities are and how they will enrich the lives of their daughters. What parent doesn’t want their daughter to grow up strong, mentally and physically? Sports are a wonderful way to find one’s place and discover particular strengths. Becoming part of a team helps to boost one’s self-image and satisfy the need to make a contribution. When one has a commitment to her team and to herself she is less likely to quit.

We have all experienced the feeling of not being good enough. That inner negative voice defeats us before we even begin. This comes from our insecure inner self. We try to ignore it, hide it, even push it away, but it persists. This is when instilling those positive thoughts, ideas and experiences come in handy, helping us to build confidence.

Through our involvement in sports we learn to praise our strong bodies and minds and believe in ourselves.

About the Author
Dani is an eclectic writer who specializes in promoting wellness in mind, body and spirit, as well as an acclaimed expert on the topic of car care for women. She served as the associate editor and primary writer for Auto Trim & Restyling News for ten years, and produced The Driving Range column for Women With Wheels for several years as well. She is the author of Car Ownership for Mommies, and Girls Go Racing: Driving to Esteems (with Susan Frissell Ph.D). In addition, Dani writes a regular wellness column for the Hartford Examiner. Check out her website at www.musesandmeditations.com.

© 2009. This article was excerpted with permission from Dani Ben-Ari. All reprints must state, “Reprinted with permission by Dani Ben-Ari from her book Girls Go Racing:Driving to Esteems at www.musesandmeditations.com. Originally published in www.WomensOnlineMagazine.com, December 2009.

DISCLAIMER: The information and opinions reflected in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect on the publisher, editor, or editorial staff of Women’s Online Magazine. This article has been written and reviewed by the author. Any errors should be brought to the attention of the author.

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