Self-Image: How to Overcome Inferiority Judgments

by Lou Priolo

This helpful booklet addresses the issue of self-image from a biblical perspective, defining both what self-image is and what it isn't. Readers are encouraged to make a list of their inferiorities--the areas of their lives they believe to be inadequate--and then to classify those inferiorities as inaccurate, accurate but not sinful, or accurate and sinful. The author then provides biblical guidelines to help correct the inferiority judgments in each of these categories.

The Resources for Biblical Living booklet series addresses a wide range of practical life issues in a straightforward, down-to-earth, and, most of all, biblical manner.

Genres: Counselling, Christian, Nonfiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 5, 2007

About the author

LOU PRIOLO is the Director of Biblical Counseling at Eastwood Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Alabama. A graduate of Calvary Bible College and Liberty University, he is the author of The Heart of Anger , and The Complete Husband. Lou is also a Fellow in the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors. He resides in Wetumpka, Alabama with his wife, Kim, and daughters, Sophia and Gabriella.

Reviews

[Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

With this additional installment in the Resource For Biblical Living series, Lou Priolo takes on a very common subject in life. I remember all too well, the bankrupt self-love, self-image, self-esteem movement of yesteryear, when people all across the nation, possibly the world, perpetuated the idea that much of what ails a person is actually their low self-esteem, their lack of self-love, and their poor self-image. Years ago, I bought into the tripe that promoted the "self" teaching. This whole movement, after years of experimentation, was shown to be greatly a failure. Yet, "failure" doesn't mean the concepts do not still float around the culture. In fact, much like Freudian thought that is still deeply embedded within the American culture, the "self" movement is so deeply entrenched in American thought that barely a week goes by without hearing someone use the terminology. Many people still believe that their problems can be wrapped up in an explanation of having poor self-esteem, or a low self-image, or that they woefully lack in self-love. This whole movement is contradictory to what our Creator says. In this light, Lou Priolo presents in this 31 page booklet, a very concise, biblical, and practical approach to dealing with one's self-image.

Priolo sets the stage for the reader by getting them to consider that the concept of self-image does not exist in the pages of Scripture. The Scriptures speak to something much deeper, and actually, what is at the heart level of the struggle with self-image. Priolo tells us that "self-image can best be classified as a judgment one makes as he evaluates himself." We continuously are making judgments of ourselves, making assessments of who and what we are. These are all self-evaluations, and all of the self-evaluations are not feelings, but are actually cognitive assessments, or to use Priolo's word, "thoughts."

Priolo writes about three categories of Inferiority judgments that people make: Inaccurate perceptions, accurate assessments but not sinful, and accurate assessments that are sinful. In other words, all of our assessments of self fit into one of those three categories. The author provides a two charts, the first of which provides an example of a person who has perceptions of self that fit into each category. Then, he provides the reader with a blank copy of the chart which allows the reader to fill in a self-assessment. Priolo then comes back to breaking down each of the three categories.

Under Inaccurate assessment, the author gives seven guiding principles to consider: 1) Evaluate the available data on which you have based your erroneous perceptions; 2) Invalidate erroneous perceptions on the basis of two or three witnesses (get input from honest, loving friends); 3) Learn to distinguish fact from feeling (evidence from emotion); 4) Memorize and meditate on Ecclesiastes 7:21-22; 5) Avoid making unbiblical prophecies about the future; 6) Practice bringing every thought into captivity by writing out accurate perceptions based on scriptural evidences; and 7) Learn to speak the truth in your heart. This is the launching point and one that can help many-a-people tackle inaccurate assessments of themselves. Much of what people struggle with when they say that they have a terrible self-image, can be dealt with by utilizing these seven principles.

Next, Priolo addresses the category of the accurate self-perception that is not sinful. To deal with this does not require a change in perception but a change in values. In other words, this person is "valuing something too highly, or not valuing something that God values as highly as they should. Priolo suggests: 1) Make it your aim to thoroughly understand the doctrines of justification and positional sanctification; 2) "Reprogram" you conscience by examining each area of doubt in light of the whole counsel of God; 3) Learn how to distinguish sin issues from issues that are not sinful; 4) Remember that godly character is more valuable to God and therefore more to be desired than outward appearance or human abilities; 5) Lear to identify and correct legalistic, perfectionist, and ascetic thought patterns; 6) Stop comparing yourself to others; and 7) Learn how to glory in your infirmities, knowing that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. As you can tell by reading through this list, these suggestions can be very helpful for the person who makes inaccurate perceptions of themself in areas that are not issues of sin;

Last, Priolo takes on the Self-perceptions that are accurate and relate to sinful issues. He says, "It is the most important because the guilt associated with these sins will lead to misery (i.e. depression) as long as you know that you are not working on repenting of them. This, by the way, is where most Christian-oriented self-image approaches fail. It doesn't much matter how often you tell yourself that you're a child of the King, or preach the gospel to yourself, or accept those 'unchangeable defects' that God prescribed before you were born. Unless you deal (even just begin to deal) with the sin habits in your life, you will have self-image issues and will not feel good about yourself." Priolo then offers a handful of suggestions: 1) Be sure you understand the doctrine of progressive sanctification; 2) Make it your goal to replace sinful behaviors with their biblical alternatives; 3) Develop habits of godliness; 4) Internalize those portions of God's Word that address your sinful "inferiority"; 5) Look for idolatrous desires behind the sinful inferiority; and 6) If you have not already done so, consider finding a biblically trained counselor in your area to help you implement what you have just learned.

Priolo's short booklet may be just what the "doctor" ordered for you. It's brevity makes it something that one can sit down and read in a short amount of time and he/she can then begin to take on the numerous suggestions put forward by the author. I'm sure there are some aspects of the booklet that need to be developed more fully, but as a whole, this booklet is an excellent resource to use if you are caught in the self-image battle.

[Jennifer Trzeciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful booklet on thinking through the concept of self-esteem from a biblical perspective. And true to Priolo form, he gives practical help in putting off this sin and putting on righteous thinking and acting.

[Amanda Bittner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this had some good nuggets, but overall a lack of applying the gospel specifically to self-image issues. Was more application driven than gospel-centered.

[Cassie Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this booklet through Biblical Counseling within my church. I found it really insightful. It helped me to understand the way I view myself, specifically negatively. It helps to categorize your thoughts and break them down to see if they are worldly perceptions, accurate but not important, or sinful. It’s short and sweet, provoking a lot of thought. Although I went through it with a counselor, it is a book that can be gone through on your own.

[Brock Bittner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave some helpful categories for thinking through this issue. Needed to do more work in showing how the gospel is the answer to this issue. At times felt more like a to-do list that just needed to be checked off.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oxygen for my soul
This book is practical and biblical
I will want to keep it handy, because it is going to be an ongoing battle in my heart and life.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes

Self-image is not an emotion or a feeling, but a part of our cognitive process - it is fundamentally thought or judgment we make based on self-perception. Evaluate whether self-perception is:
1) Accurate or inaccurate
2) Accurate but NOT sinful
3) Accurate AND sinful through biblical lens

Categorize each self-perception under one of three groups:

1) Inaccurate perception: change perception
• Distinguish fact from feeling.
• Avoid overestimating the possibility of danger or magnifying terribleness of a future event.
• Speak the truth in our heart: write biblical arguments to correct our wrong perceptions and meditate on the scriptures.

2) Accurate but not sinful: change our values to be biblically based
• Remember godly character is more valuable to God and to be desired than outward appearance or human abilities. Replace your temporal value system with an eternal value system (Matt. 5:3-12; Rom. 8:28-29; Col. 3:12-17; 2 Peter 1:3; 1 John 3:2-3).
• Stop comparing yourself to others. Evaluate these inferiorities as being acceptable to God and be content with it.
• Use our infirmities to glorify God and boast about how Christ's power is operating in our life through them.

3) Accurate and sinful: change in behavior (and motive)
• Replace sinful behaviors with their biblical alternatives. Apply the put-on/put-off dynamic: replace rotten words with edifying words (Eph. 4:29), selfish motives with loving motives, bad attitudes with good ones.
• Develop habits of godliness. As with any other habits, they become “second nature” when practiced so frequently that it becomes more natural so they can be accomplished more quickly, easily, automatically and unconsciously.

[Julie Havener · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great booklet handling issues that affect each of us.

[Peggy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I use this book nonstop! It speaks to how to truly overcome the self-image issue in our culture. I use it with junior high students and up!
Great read! Love the practical exercises in the booklet.