Article: Making positive self-talk a priority is a good way to improve your self-esteem. Try to take a few minutes every day to say something nice to yourself. This can be a simple compliment or simply reminding yourself that you love yourself.  Every day, say (or write), “I love and accept myself unconditionally for who I am.” For more information, check out How to Improve Self Esteem with Positive Affirmations. Or, try looking in the mirror and giving yourself a compliment about your physical appearance every day. For example, you can say, “I love how my hair looks today! It is so shiny and sleek!” . Accept that you are human and are having a human experience. This can help you remember that you do not suffer alone and that you are connected to others. Everyone makes mistakes and finds themselves in situations out of their control. Remembering this can help you be more compassionate toward yourself and others. Allow yourself to experience your emotions. Don’t stifle your emotions but don’t explode, either. Remember that it’s normal to have emotions and expressing them is okay. Emotions come and go and do not define you, no matter how bad they feel. For example, if you feel neglected by your partner, recognize that it’s okay to feel bad, but these emotions do not define you or the relationship. Making a list of 10 of your strengths and 10 of your weaknesses is a good way to start building your self-esteem. Try dividing a piece of paper into two columns and then write 10 of your strengths on one side and 10 of your weaknesses on the other.  Many people find it easy to identify weaknesses, but identifying strengths can be more challenging. To identify your strengths, think about times that people have complimented you. These can be little things, such as times people have remarked, “You’re such a good listener!” or “You are really good at drawing!” Even if you think it is not worth listing, add it to your strengths list. Try not to compare yourself to others. Instead, remind yourself that everyone has something they are good at and focus on what you are good at. . Setting large, unrealistic goals can create a situation where you are not meeting your own expectations and this can damage your self-esteem. To prevent this from happening, try to set realistic goals for yourself.  Make sure that your goals are specific and that you have a way of measuring them. For example, a specific and measurable goal might be something like, “I want to improve my mile time by 30 seconds by the end of the month.” If your goal is too large, then this can also be overwhelming. Try to break large goals into more manageable ones as well. For example, instead of setting a goal to find a better job, you could set smaller goals for yourself, such as to work on your resume or to apply for five new jobs every week. Sometimes your accomplishments might seem to go unnoticed by people, but you can always acknowledge them yourself. Try making a point of acknowledging all of your accomplishments, even if you think they are too small to acknowledge.  For example, if you have been trying to eat healthier and you prepared a healthy dinner for yourself, then you could note this in your journal with something like, “Had steamed broccoli and salmon for dinner tonight! Way to go me!” Another option is to look yourself in the mirror and congratulate yourself on your accomplishments. For example, if you studied really hard for a big test, then you might look yourself in the mirror and say, “You did such a good job! I am so proud of you for all the hard work you put in!” . Taking good care of yourself is also important for building self-esteem. By taking good care of your body and mind, you will be sending the message to yourself that you deserve good treatment. Some things you can do to take good care of yourself include:  Practicing good hygiene, such as by showering every day, combing your hair, brushing your teeth, using deodorant, and wearing clean clothes. Making time to do things you enjoy, such as playing an instrument, reading, watching movies, or painting. Taking care of your physical health, such as by preparing healthy meals for yourself, exercising, and getting plenty of sleep. Managing stress, such as by meditating, practicing yoga, or doing deep breathing exercises. If you’re unsure of where to begin or how to see yourself more positively, therapy can be a great place to start. Talk therapies such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can help you begin to feel more confident and accepting of yourself. To find a therapist, contact your insurance provider, local mental health clinic, or obtain a recommendation from a physician or a friend.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Use positive affirmations. Practice self-compassion Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Set realistic goals Acknowledge your accomplishments. Take good care of yourself See a therapist.
Article: Having the “just a temp” mindset will prevent you from achieving success. If you treat the job as a temporary position by not giving your all and showing little commitment, you will be treated as a temp and not offered the opportunity to stay. Acting like a permanent employee means coming to work as if you already are one. The more normal and “at home” you feel, the more you will be seen as such by others. You can get started by doing the following:  Show up on time Follow the rules Dress according to the dress code Make connections Share ideas Complete assigned tasks to the best of your ability You may not be expected to go above and beyond or even to do a good job. If you value a career opportunity, treat the position as if it is already permanent. Exceed expectations by doing  the following:  Show attention to detail, and keep mistakes to a minimum. Your supervisor will be relieved to know s/he won't have to go over your work or ask you to re-do it. Work overtime to complete projects that have strict deadlines. If your supervisor allows it, you will show dedication to the company by offering to work overtime. Participate in team meetings. Actively participate in team conversations by giving your opinions and sharing your ideas. This will show you truly want to contribute to team success. Volunteer and take initiative on special projects. Sometimes situations arise where certain team members are required to head up special projects. Do not let your temporary status get in your way. If you feel you can truly contribute to the project, volunteer! Your supervisor will appreciate your initiative. It is important to notify your supervisor that you are interested in permanent placement with the company. However, it is not good to keep talking about it, because you will seem annoying and pushy. When bringing this up to your supervisor you can choose to do the following:  Express interest at the beginning of your employment. You can simply say, “I am excited to start working with you and hope my accomplishments will prove my ability to do this job on a permanent basis.” Remind your supervisor toward the middle of your specified time with the company,  preferably after making a good contribution or completing a major project successfully. You can remind them by saying, “I really feel like I can succeed here. If I am offered this position permanently, I know I can contribute to more team successes." Have a discussion with your supervisor a few weeks before your temp status ends. Use this time to be honest about your interest in a permanent position, and remind them of your successes. You can also ask about time-frames and notices, since you would need to seek other employment if they choose not to offer you the job permanently. There is no need to keep asking about a permanent job. Your desire has been made clear, and it is up to the company now. Most likely the decision will be made collectively with input from your co-workers, supervisor, HR and possibly upper-level management.  Be patient. If you seem to fit in well and are the right person for the job, you will be offered the position.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Think and act like a permanent employee to be seen as one. Beat the temp stigma by exceeding expectations for a temp worker. Express interest in a permanent position. Wait for a decision to be made.