ASSIGNMENT

ON
CONCEPTUAL MODELS
AND
CONCEPT OF
SELF HEALTH

Submitted to, Submitted by,

Mrs. R. Gomathy Kainali A. Chophy
Associate Professor M.Sc (N) 1 st Year
Dept. of Medical Surgical Nursing VMCON
VMCON

Submitted on: 12-05-2020

 CONCEPTUAL MODELS AND CONCEPT OF SELF HEALTH

CONCEPTUAL MODELS
Introduction:
A conceptual model is a representation of a system that uses concepts and ideas to form
said representation. Conceptual modeling is used across many fields, ranging from the sciences
to socioeconomics to software development.
When using a conceptual model to represent abstract ideas, it’s important to distinguish
between a model of a concept versus a model that is conceptual. That is to say, a model
is intrinsically a thing unto itself, but that model also contains a concept of what that model
represents — what a model is, as opposed to what a model represents. Without diving too deep
into the philosophical, recognizing these differences between the model itself and what it
represents is critical to understanding the proper use of conceptual models in the first place. It
should come as no surprise, then, that conceptual models are often used as an abstract
representation of real world objects.
Conceptual modeling is used as a way to describe physical or social aspects of the world
in an abstract way. For example, in the realm of software development, a conceptual
model may be used to represent the relationships of entities within a database. Whether written
down via text or diagrammed visually, such a conceptual model can easily represent abstract
concepts of the relationships between objects in the system, such as users and their relationship
to accounts.
In fact, conceptual models within a typical software development life cycle are often
referred to as domain models. A domain model is a type of conceptual model that incorporates
representations of both behavior and data at the same time.

Definition:

Conceptual model is a representation of a system, made of the composition of concepts which

are used to help people know, understand, or simulate a subject the model represents. It is also
a set of concepts. Some models are physical objects; for example, a toy model which may be
assembled, and may be made to work like the object it represents.
 Conceptual model may refer to models which are formed after
a conceptualization or generalization process. Conceptual models are often abstractions of
things in the real world, whether physical or social. Semantic studies are relevant to various
stages of concept formation. Semantics is basically about concepts, the meaning that thinking
beings give to various elements of their experience.

Objectives:
A conceptual model should fulfill four fundamental objectives:

• Enhance understanding of the representative system.

• Promote efficient conveyance of system details between team members.
• Provide a point of reference for system designers to gather system specifications.
• Document the system for future reference.

The conceptual model plays an important role in the overall system development life
cycle. Figure below, depicts the role of the conceptual model in a typical system development
scheme. It is clear that if the conceptual model is not fully developed, the execution of
fundamental system properties may not be implemented properly, giving way to future
problems or system shortfalls. These failures do occur in the industry and have been linked to;
lack of user input, incomplete or unclear requirements, and changing requirements. Those weak
links in the system design and development process can be traced to improper execution of the
fundamental objectives of conceptual modeling. The importance of conceptual modeling is
evident when such systemic failures are mitigated by thorough system development and
adherence to proven development objectives/techniques.
 Goals:
• Explains/ suggests reasons for human behaviour.
• Explains about therapeutic treatment and strategies.
• Explains the role of patient and therapist.
• It organises the gathered data.
• It evaluate the effectiveness of care.
• It facilitates research in to human being.
Types of conceptual models:
• Psychoanalytical model
• Behavioural model
• Interpersonal model
• Communication model
• Medical model
• Nursing model
• Essential model
• Social model

Conceptual Model Implementation and Best Practices:

Due to the broad spectrum of concepts and inherent abstractness that it can
represent, conceptual modeling is used in a wide range of projects, across dozens of fields.
Within the realm of software development, conceptual modeling is most commonly used as a
form of data modeling; representing abstract business entities and the relationships therein.The
rise of rapid application development represents another very common implementation
of conceptual modeling, which uses abstract models to represent development processes that
are rapidly changing and being iterated upon. Furthermore, within each phase of rapid
application development, conceptual models are typically used to communicate sub-concepts
as well.
Even fundamental modeling practices are, by their very nature, forms of conceptual
models. One such example is the Unified Modeling Language, which was created in the mid-
90s, and is a general purpose modeling language that attempts to provide a standard method to
visualize system design.
Throughout all the various implementations of conceptual models, a few best practices have
emerged. A conceptual model should:
 • be available to all team members, to facilitate collaboration and iteration.
• be easily changeable, as a continuous reflection of up-to-date information.
• contain both visual and written forms of diagramming, to better explain the abstract
concepts it may represent.
• establish relevant terms and concepts that will be used throughout the project.
• define said terms and concepts.
• provide a basic structure for entities of the project.
In spite of the name, conceptual models are not merely conceptual, they are frequently put to
use in real-world scenarios. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
used conceptual modeling to develop Emergency Response Management systems, as have
other vital institutions including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and
the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Modeling techniques:
As systems have become increasingly complex, the role of conceptual modelling has
dramatically expanded. With that expanded presence, the effectiveness of conceptual modeling
at capturing the fundamentals of a system is being realized. Building on that realization,
numerous conceptual modeling techniques have been created. These techniques can be applied
across multiple disciplines to increase the user's understanding of the system to be modeled. A
few techniques are briefly described in the following text, however, many more exist or are being
developed. Some commonly used conceptual modeling techniques and methods
include: workflow modeling, workforce modeling, rapid application development, object-role
modeling, and the Unified Modeling Language (UML).

a) Data flow modeling:

Data flow modeling (DFM) is a basic conceptual modeling technique that graphically
represents elements of a system. DFM is a fairly simple technique, however, like many
conceptual modeling techniques, it is possible to construct higher and lower level representative
diagrams. The data flow diagram usually does not convey complex system details such as
parallel development considerations or timing information, but rather works to bring the major
system functions into context. Data flow modeling is a central technique used in systems
development that utilizes the structured systems analysis and design method (SSADM).
b) Entity relationship modeling (Ontology oriented):

Entity-relationship modeling (ERM) is a conceptual modeling technique used primarily

for software system representation. Entity-relationship diagrams, which are a product of
executing the ERM technique, are normally used to represent database models and information
systems. The main components of the diagram are the entities and relationships. The entities can
represent independent functions, objects, or events. The relationships are responsible for relating
the entities to one another. To form a system process, the relationships are combined with the
entities and any attributes needed to further describe the process. Multiple diagramming
conventions exist for this technique; IDEF1X, Bachman, and EXPRESS, to name a few. These
conventions are just different ways of viewing and organizing the data to represent different
system aspects.

c) Event-driven process chain:

The event-driven process chain (EPC) is a conceptual modeling technique which is

mainly used to systematically improve business process flows. Like most conceptual modeling
techniques, the event driven process chain consists of entities/elements and functions that allow
relationships to be developed and processed. More specifically, the EPC is made up of events
which define what state a process is in or the rules by which it operates. In order to progress
through events, a function/ active event must be executed. Depending on the process flow, the
function has the ability to transform event states or link to other event driven process chains.
Other elements exist within an EPC, all of which work together to define how and by what rules
the system operates. The EPC technique can be applied to business practices such as resource
planning, process improvement, and logistics.

d) Joint application development:

The dynamic systems development method uses a specific process called JEFFF to
conceptually model a systems life cycle. JEFFF is intended to focus more on the higher level
development planning that precedes a project's initialization. The JAD process calls for a series
of workshops in which the participants work to identify, define, and generally map a successful
project from conception to completion. This method has been found to not work well for large
scale applications, however smaller applications usually report some net gain in efficiency.

e) Place/transition net:

Also known as Petri nets, this conceptual modeling technique allows a system to be
constructed with elements that can be described by direct mathematical means. The petri net,
 because of its nondeterministic execution properties and well defined mathematical theory, is a
useful technique for modeling concurrent system behavior, i.e. simultaneous process executions.

f) State transition modeling:

State transition modeling makes use of state transition diagrams to describe system
behavior. These state transition diagrams use distinct states to define system behavior and
changes. Most current modeling tools contain some kind of ability to represent state transition
modeling. The use of state transition models can be most easily recognized as logic state
diagrams and directed graphs for finite-state machines.

g) Technique evaluation and selection:

Because the conceptual modeling method can sometimes be purposefully vague to

account for a broad area of use, the actual application of concept modeling can become difficult.
To alleviate this issue, and shed some light on what to consider when selecting an appropriate
conceptual modeling technique, the framework proposed by Gemino and Wand will be discussed
in the following text. However, before evaluating the effectiveness of a conceptual modeling
technique for a particular application, an important concept must be understood; Comparing
conceptual models by way of specifically focusing on their graphical or top level representations
is shortsighted. Gemino and Wand make a good point when arguing that the emphasis should be
placed on a conceptual modeling language when choosing an appropriate technique. In general,
a conceptual model is developed using some form of conceptual modeling technique. That
technique will utilize a conceptual modeling language that determines the rules for how the
model is arrived at. Understanding the capabilities of the specific language used is inherent to
properly evaluating a conceptual modeling technique, as the language reflects the techniques
descriptive ability. Also, the conceptual modeling language will directly influence the depth at
which the system is capable of being represented, whether it be complex or simple.

h) Considering affecting factors:

Building on some of their earlier work, Gemino and Wand acknowledge some main
points to consider when studying the affecting factors: the content that the conceptual model
must represent, the method in which the model will be presented, the characteristics of the
model's users, and the conceptual model languages specific task. The conceptual model's content
should be considered in order to select a technique that would allow relevant information to be
presented. The presentation method for selection purposes would focus on the technique's ability
to represent the model at the intended level of depth and detail. The characteristics of the model's
 users or participants is an important aspect to consider. A participant's background and
experience should coincide with the conceptual model's complexity, else misrepresentation of
the system or misunderstanding of key system concepts could lead to problems in that system's
realization. The conceptual model language task will further allow an appropriate technique to
be chosen. The difference between creating a system conceptual model to convey system
functionality and creating a system conceptual model to interpret that functionality could involve
two completely different types of conceptual modeling languages.

i) Considering affected variables:

Gemino and Wand go on to expand the affected variable content of their proposed
framework by considering the focus of observation and the criterion for comparison. The focus
of observation considers whether the conceptual modeling technique will create a "new product",
or whether the technique will only bring about a more intimate understanding of the system
being modeled. The criterion for comparison would weigh the ability of the conceptual modeling
technique to be efficient or effective. A conceptual modeling technique that allows for
development of a system model which takes all system variables into account at a high level may
make the process of understanding the system functionality more efficient, but the technique
lacks the necessary information to explain the internal processes, rendering the model less
effective.

When deciding which conceptual technique to use, the recommendations of Gemino

and Wand can be applied in order to properly evaluate the scope of the conceptual model in
question. Understanding the conceptual models scope will lead to a more informed selection of
a technique that properly addresses that particular model. In summary, when deciding between
modeling techniques, answering the following questions would allow one to address some
important conceptual modeling considerations.

1. What content will the conceptual model represent?

2. How will the conceptual model be presented?
3. Who will be using or participating in the conceptual model?
4. How will the conceptual model describe the system?
5. What is the conceptual models focus of observation?
6. Will the conceptual model be efficient or effective in describing the system?
Another function of the simulation conceptual model is to provide a rational and factual basis
for assessment of simulation application appropriateness.

Models in philosophy and science:

a) Mental model: In cognitive psychology and philosophy of mind, a mental model is a

representation of something in the mind, but a mental model may also refer to a nonphysical
external model of the mind itself.

b) Metaphysical models: A metaphysical model is a type of conceptual model which is

distinguished from other conceptual models by its proposed scope; a metaphysical model
intends to represent reality in the broadest possible way. This is to say that it explains the
answers to fundamental questions such as whether matter and mind are one or
two substances; or whether or not humans have free will.

c) Conceptual model: Conceptual Models and semantic models have many similarities,
however the way they are presented, the level of flexibility and the use are different.
Conceptual models have a certain purpose in mind, hence the core semantic concepts are
predefined in a so-called meta model. This enables a pragmatic modelling but reduces the
flexibility, as only the predefined semantic concepts can be used. Samples are flow charts
for process behaviour or organisational structure for tree behaviour. In a concept model each
concept has a unique and distinguishable graphical representation, whereas semantic
concepts are by default the same. In a concept model each concept has predefined properties
that can be populated,

d) Semantics model: Semantic models are more flexible and open, and therefore more
difficult to model. Potentially any semantic concept can be defined, hence the modelling
support is very generic. Samples are terminologies, taxonomies or ontologies. semantic
concepts are related to concepts that are interpreted as properties. In a concept model
operational semantic can be built-in, like the processing of a sequence, whereas a semantic
model needs explicit semantic definition of the sequence.

e) Epistemological models: An epistemological model is a type of conceptual model whose

proposed scope is the known and the knowable, and the believed and the believable.

f) Logical models: In logic, a model is a type of interpretation under which a particular

statement is true. Logical models can be broadly divided into ones which only attempt to
 represent concepts, such as mathematical models; and ones which attempt to represent
physical objects, and factual relationships, among which are scientific models.

Model theory is the study of (classes of) mathematical structures such as groups,
fields, graphs, or even universes of set theory, using tools from mathematical logic. A
system that gives meaning to the sentences of a formal language is called a model for the
language. If a model for a language moreover satisfies a particular sentence or theory (set
of sentences), it is called a model of the sentence or theory. Model theory has close ties to
algebra and universal algebra.

g) Mathematical models: Mathematical models can take many forms, including but not
limited to dynamical systems, statistical models, differential equations, or game theoretic
models. These and other types of models can overlap, with a given model involving a variety
of abstract structures.

A more comprehensive type of mathematical model uses a linguistic version

of category theory to model a given situation. Akin to entity-relationship models,
custom categories or sketches can be directly translated into database schemas. The
difference is that logic is replaced by category theory, which brings powerful theorems to
bear on the subject of modeling, especially useful for translating between disparate models
(as functors between categories).

h) Scientific models: A scientific model is a simplified abstract view of a complex reality. A

scientific model represents empirical objects, phenomena, and physical processes in
a logical way. Attempts to formalize the principles of the empirical sciences use
an interpretation to model reality, in the same way
logicians axiomatize the principles of logic. The aim of these attempts is to construct
a formal system for which reality is the only interpretation. The world is an interpretation
(or model) of these sciences, only insofar as these sciences are true.

Advantages of Conceptual Modeling:

The primary advantages of a conceptual model include:

• Establishes Entities: By establishing and defining all the various entities and concepts
that are likely to come up throughout the course of a software development life cycle,
a conceptual model can help ensure that there are fewer surprises down the road, where
entities or relationships might otherwise have been neglected or forgotten.
 • Defines Project Scope: A solid conceptual model can be used as a way to define
project scope, which assists with time management and scheduling.
• Base Model for Other Models: For most projects, additional, less abstract models will
need to be generated beyond the rough concepts defined in the conceptual
model. Conceptual models serve as a great jumping-off point from which more
concrete models can be created, such as logical data models and the like.
• High-Level Understanding: Conceptual models serve as a great tool by providing a
high-level understanding of a system throughout the software development life cycle.
This can be particularly beneficial for managers and executives, who may not be
dealing directly with coding or implementation, but require a solid understanding of the
system and the relationships therein.

Disadvantages of Conceptual Modeling:

Since a conceptual model is so abstract, and thus, is only as useful as you make it, there can
be a few disadvantages or caveats to watch out for when implementing your own conceptual
model:

▪ Creation Requires Deep Understanding: While conceptual models can (and should)
be adaptive, proper creation and maintenance of a conceptual model requires a
fundamental and robust understanding of the project, along with all associated entities
and relationships.
▪ Potential Time Sink: Improper modeling of entities or relationships within
a conceptual model may lead to massive time waste and potential sunk costs, where
development and planning have largely gone astray of what was actually necessary in
the first place.
▪ Possible System Clashes: Since conceptual modeling is used to represent such abstract
entities and their relationships, it’s possible to create clashes between various
components. In this case, a clash simply indicates that one component may conflict with
another component, somewhere down the line. This may be seen
when design or coding clash with deployment, as the initial assumptions of scaling
during design and coding were proven wrong when actual deployment occurred.
▪ Implementation Challenge Scales With Size: While conceptual models are not
inherently ill-suited for large applications, it can be challenging to develop and maintain
 a proper conceptual model for particularly complex projects, as the number of potential
issues, or clashes, will grow exponentially as the system size increases.

Conclusion:
A conceptual model provides the practitioner with a general perspective or a mind-set of what
is important to observe, which in turn provides the basis for making nursing diagnoses and
selecting nursing interventions. It is used to understand the place of and inform the direction
of a research project.

CONCEPT OF SELF HEALTH

Introduction:
Self-concept is the image that we have of ourselves. How exactly does this self-image form
and change over time? This image develops in a number of ways but is particularly
influenced by our interactions with important people in our lives. Self-concept is generally
thought of as our individual perceptions of our behavior, abilities, and unique
characteristics—a mental picture of who you are as a person. For example, beliefs such as "I
am a good friend" or "I am a kind person" are part of an overall self-concept.
Self-concept tends to be more malleable when people are younger and still going
through the process of self-discovery and identity formation. As people age, self-perceptions
become much more detailed and organized as people form a better idea of who they are and
what is important to them.

Definition:

According to the book Essential Social Psychology by Richard Crisp and Rhiannon Turner:

• The individual self consists of attributes and personality traits that differentiate us
from other individuals. Examples include introversion or extroversion.
• The relational self is defined by our relationships with significant others. Examples
include siblings, friends, and spouses.
• The collective self reflects our membership in social groups. Examples include
British, Republican, African-American, or gay.
At its most basic, self-concept is a collection of beliefs one holds about oneself and the
responses of others. It embodies the answer to the question, Who am I ?”
Theories of Self-Concept:
According to a theory known as social identity theory, self-concept is composed of two key
parts: personal identity and social identity.
i. Personal identity includes the traits and other characteristics that make each person
unique.
ii. Social identity refers to how we identify with a collective, such as a community,
religion or political movement.
Psychologist Dr. Bruce A. Bracken suggested in 1992 that there are six specific domains
related to self-concept:
i. Social: the ability to interact with others
ii. Competence: the ability to meet basic needs
iii. Affect: the awareness of emotional states
iv. Physical: feelings about looks, health, physical condition, and overall appearance
v. Academic: success or failure in school
vi. Family: how well one functions within the family unit
Humanist psychologist, Carl Rogers believed that there were three different parts of self-
concept:
i. Self-image, or how you see yourself. Each individual's self-image is a mixture of
different attributes including our physical characteristics, personality traits, and social
roles. Self-image doesn't necessarily coincide with reality. Some people might have an
inflated self-image of themselves, while others may perceive or exaggerate the flaws
and weaknesses that others don't see.
ii. Self-esteem, or how much you value yourself. A number of factors can impact self-
esteem, including how we compare ourselves to others and how others respond to us.
When people respond positively to our behavior, we are more likely to develop
positive self-esteem. When we compare ourselves to others and find ourselves lacking,
it can have a negative impact on our self-esteem.
iii. Ideal self, or how you wish you could be in the future. This is your ideal self or the
ideal person you envision of being and becoming. Many times, how people see
themselves and how they would like to see themselves doesn’t quite match up. And this
is precisely what causes problems and often leads to self-sabotaging behavior patterns
and emotional struggles.
The Value of a Healthy Self-Concept
• The value of having a healthy self-concept becomes more evident when we recognize
how much it influences our ability to manage our emotional experiences. However, it
doesn’t stop there.
• A healthy self-concept also determines how far you will step outside your comfort
zone to solve a problem or achieve a goal. Moreover, it influences how you utilize your
physiology while confronting challenges, obstacles, and problems.
• A healthy self-concept impacts the questions you typically ask yourself each day, and it
affects how you interact with people, how you think about yourself, others, and
circumstances.
• Putting all this together, your self-concept effectively determines what you will do or
choose not to do at any given moment in time. It, therefore, influences your inherent
potential to do, be, have and achieve your desired objectives.

The Forces Influencing Your Self-Concept:

• There are a number of forces that shape your self-concept and, therefore, impact its health
and vitality over time. Some of these forces come from internal sources, while other
forces come from external sources.
✓ Internal sources include what you think about yourself and/or others, what you pay
attention to, how you interpret the events and circumstances of your life, and
how you reframe both failure and success.
✓ External sources include the environment you spend most of your time in, your
interactions with others, and how other people tend to label you.
• The most important thing to note here is the impact that other people have on your self-

concept.
• Through rejection, judgment, ridicule, and criticism, other people often influence how you

feel about yourself, the labels you give yourself, and fundamentally what you believe about
yourself, about your own abilities, and the world around you.
• In many ways, your self-worth is tied to the people in your life. Therefore, if you’re

struggling with an unhealthy self-concept, then it could very well be a direct result of the
interactions you have with other people.
• The bad news is that all of these internal and external sources have a profound impact on

your self-concept. The good news is that starting today, you can begin taking affirmative
and proactive action to improve your self-concept and optimize how you live your life.
Tell tale Signs that You Have an Unhealthy Self-Concept:
• An unhealthy self-concept is something that often drags us down in life. It’s something
that limits your opportunities, denies you access to essential resources, and undermines your
potential.
• An unhealthy self-concept implies that you have a low value of yourself. And when we have
a low value of ourselves we typically lack the confidence needed to move boldly in the
direction of our goals.
• Without self-confidence, we lack the resourcefulness needed to overcome uncertainty, to
solve problems, and to effectively manage change.
• Life rapidly gets overwhelming and difficult to bear. You struggle with your emotions and
make poor decisions. Everything essentially becomes a struggle. And things really shouldn’t
be this way.
• Your unhealthy self-concept is getting in the way of living your life to your best
potential. It’s filtering out the reality of how life is and creating an alternate reality that you
have unfortunately accepted as the truth.
• What’s more, is that we become so caught up in our own lives, that it’s difficult to pinpoint
whether or not we’re actually struggling with a weak self-concept.
• There are, however, specific signs to look out for that can help you identify whether or not
you’re struggling with a weak self-concept. For instance, you likely have a weak self-
concept when you…
✓ Fail to give affection.

✓ Always compare yourself to other people.

✓ Succumb to jealousy.

✓ Consistently reject compliments.

✓ Perpetually criticise yourself and others.

✓ Indulge in negative self-talk that manifests and pessimism.

✓ Persistently suffer from guilt about what you could, should, or would’ve done.

✓ Undermine your own personal needs in favor of other people’s needs.

✓ Suffer from poor emotional and physical health.

• Taken individually these symptoms don’t signify that you have a poor self-
concept. However, if you’ve ticked 3 or 4 items off this list, then that’s probably a clear
indication that your self-concept has taken a hit.
 • If you have a low self-concept, then it’s time to commit yourself to upgrading your
thoughts, beliefs, decisions, and actions moving forward. Only in this way will you
transform your self-concept and optimize how you live your life.
• Given all this, it’s, however, important to note that all these signs are nothing more than
defensive mechanisms that protect you from emotional harm.
• Your body and mind are doing their best to cope with life, events, and circumstances.
However, frequently these coping strategies don’t quite work to your advantage.
• What’s worse is that you might succumb to indulging in limiting behaviors in a feeble
attempt to feel better about yourself. You might for instance:
✓ Shift into “denial mode” and deny that anything is wrong despite evidence to the

contrary.
✓ Make assumptions and/or justifications that aren’t based on fact but rather on your

biased “rose-colored” view of reality.

✓ Launch into a verbal barrage where you attack yourself and others based on false

perceptions of how you see things.

✓ Choose to bask in negativity. Life sucks as it is, so why not just wallow in self-pity

and experience the full brunt of your negative feelings?

✓ Try and avoid people and circumstances by distracting yourself
with addictions and other unhealthy habitual behaviors.
• All of these semi-coping strategies might provide you with some semblance of control.
They may even provide you with some relief and temporary satisfaction. However, in
the long-run, they will only hurt you. You will hurt because you struggle to face the
reality of your situation.
• You’re incapable of facing the truth. And without the truth, you won’t make the
necessary changes that will transform your self-concept and help you take charge of
your life.

How to Improve Your Self-Concept

Transforming your self-concept won’t be easy. In fact, it will take a great deal
of patience, time, and effort.
• Along this journey, you will likely need to release old habits, limiting beliefs, and unhelpful
thoughts.
• You will essentially need to question the value of how you’ve been living your life, which
includes the choices and decisions you’ve been making.
• If the choices you make are not stretching your comfort zone and pushing you toward your
goals then change is something that needs to be on the horizon.
• Even though this journey and the inevitable transformation will not be easy, it will, however,
be worth your while.
• No longer will you be at the mercy of your rose-colored view of reality. Instead, you will
have taken control. And with control comes confidence. And with confidence
comes personal power — the power to transform your life with purpose.
• It’s important to note that the quality of your life is a direct reflection of your emotional
state of mind. What this means is that when your emotions are healthy and serving your
greater good, then the quality of your life will likewise improve.
• Your life improves because life always comes down to the emotional experiences we choose
to indulge in.
• When our emotional experiences are of a healthy and positive nature, this improves the
quality of our thoughts. And as our thoughts improve so do our choices, decisions, and
actions.
• When you make better choices, you get better results. And with improved outcomes, you
feel immeasurably better about yourself. And when you feel better about yourself, your self-
concept grows stronger.
• That is, in essence, the key that will help transform a poor self-concept into something that
can help optimize how you live the rest of your life.
Step 1: Make a Personal Contract
• Before you begin working through these suggestions, it’s imperative that the very first
thing you do is make a personal contract.
• Write up a contract that gives you the green light to initiate the process of change.
Acknowledge that: Things must change…
✓ I am responsible for this change…
✓ I am committed to making this change…
✓ If for any reason you’re unable to tick-off all three boxes, then you’re just not ready
yet to instigate change.
 • Your first step is to acknowledge that changes need to be made. If you’re unable to
admit that there is something wrong, then there’s no point moving forward with this
process.
• Secondly, you need to take responsibility for making these changes. Nobody is
responsible for your life but YOU. Without YOU this can’t be done.You must,
therefore, take the responsibility on your shoulders that you, and you alone, are
responsible for making these changes.
• Thirdly, you must be committed to making the necessary changes to improve your
life.Without commitment, there is no motivation. And without motivation, there just
aren’t enough reasons for you to instigate change, which is mostly where things fall
apart.
• You, therefore, need to acknowledge that things must change, you need to take
responsibility for this change, and you need to commit yourself to follow through with
the change.
• Once you’ve ticked all three of these boxes, you’ll be ready to take the first step along
your journey toward a healthier self-concept.

Step 2: Discover Who You Are then Bridge the Gap!

• Your next step to transforming your self-concept is to discover who you are.
• Now, on the surface, this might seem kind of silly. You already know who you are,
right? You’re YOU! You’re a physical being living a life that’s uniquely yours.
However, below the surface, you are in reality so much more than that.
• So, my question is, do you honestly know who you really are?
• What you’re going to try and do here is identify the gap between “who you are” and
“who you’re seeking to become.”
• To strengthen your self-concept, you must figure out how to bridge this gap
successfully.
• You must essentially merge the YOU in the NOW together with the YOU in the
FUTURE.
• This, of course, ain’t going to be easy. In fact, there will always be some kind of
discrepancy. And this is important to understand because without a discrepancy there
is no motivation to grow and develop yourself over time.
• However, if this discrepancy is too significant between the YOU of today and the YOU
you desire to become in the future, then your self-concept will never bloom into its full
potential. There must, therefore, be congruence, or otherwise, self-actualization is
impossible.
• With this in mind, take time to answer the following questions:
✓ Who am I?
✓ Who am I really?
✓ Who am I physically?
✓ Who am I socially?
✓ Who am I emotionally?
✓ Who am I spiritually?
✓ Who am I in terms of my accomplishments?
✓ Who am I in terms of my failures and mistakes?
✓ Who am I in terms of my goals?
✓ Who am I in terms of my social roles?
✓ Who am I really? Why?
✓ Who am I not? Why not?
• The purpose of these questions is to identify how you see yourself in the present
moment and then compare that against the final set of questions laid out below. The
final set of questions focuses on what kind of person you’re seeking to become.
• As you go through each question, you will gain various insights and perspectives into
who you are. And that’s perfectly okay. Embrace these differences, because this is in
essence how you see yourself each day.
• It’s also important to note that there are no incorrect answers. Things are the way they
are.
• What’s most relevant here is whether or not these answers are congruent with the
answers you give to the following set of questions:
✓ Who am I ideally seeking to become?
✓ How do I see myself in the future?
✓ What kind of person is this person? What’s this person like?
✓ What kinds of qualities does this person have?
✓ How does this person think?
✓ How does this person talk to themselves?
 ✓ What kind of questions does this person ask themselves?
✓ What kind of emotions does this person experience?
✓ What kind of habits does this person indulge in?
✓ What experiences does this person have each day?
✓ What kind of goals is this person working towards?
✓ What kind of person is this person really?
• Your ideal self must be congruent with your perceived self in the present moment.
• If there is a significant difference between the two, then you must work on bridging that
gap, thereby strengthening your self-concept.
• Let’s now take a closer look at that gap. Ask yourself:
✓ What’s the gap between my perceived self and my ideal self?
✓ Where is the gap most significant?
✓ Where is the gap not so significant?
✓ Is the distance between the gap realistic?
✓ How could I begin bridging this gap starting today?
• Your objective for the remainder of this journey is to begin bridging that gap between
your ideal self and the self you are experiencing at this very moment.
• The more congruent both of these “selves” are, the stronger and healthier your self -
concept will become.
• Before moving on, I do have a few words of caution.
• Your self-ideal must be realistic and achievable. Otherwise, you will struggle to meet
your highest standards of performance. Subsequently, your self-concept will continue
to suffer.
• The key then is to ensure that your self-ideal is not entirely out of this world — at least
not at the beginning.
• Given this, be sure to lower your standards and expectations to make them more
achievable. Only when you reach these set standards and expectations should you
incrementally raise the bar higher.
• Remember though that your self-image is often not based on reality. It’s instead based
on your interpretation of reality.
• Therefore, if your self-image is based on false assumptions or distorted perspectives,
then you will first need to work through these issues before moving through the process
outlined here.
 • Our discussion here is more about using this process to help build your self-confidence
so that you can then take the necessary action steps to achieve your desired goals and
objectives.

Time to Make Some Key Changes to Improve Your Self-Concept

• Below you will find numerous suggestions and guidelines to help you transform your self-
concept. Some of these suggestions are easy and quick to implement, while others might
take a little time.
• What’s, however, crucial here is what you focus on while making these changes. This
essentially comes down to three fundamental things:
✓ Changing your habits of thought.

✓ Changing your self-talk.

✓ Changing your belief systems.

Transform Your Inner World:

• Your first objective is to look within and become very consciously aware of your daily
thoughts, self-talk, belief systems, psychological rules, and the questions you tend to ask.
Ask yourself:
✓ Are my thoughts aligned with my self-image?
✓ What kind of thoughts do I allow myself to dwell upon?
✓ What are these thoughts doing to me?
✓ How do these thoughts make me feel?
✓ What about my self-talk?
✓ How do I tend to talk to myself?
✓ What questions do I tend to ask myself?
✓ What are the consequences of my self-talk and the questions I ask myself?
✓ What do I tend to believe about myself?
✓ What do I tend to believe about my abilities?
✓ Is this congruent with my self-ideal?
✓ How does all this make me feel?
✓ What about the rules that govern my day-to-day decisions?
✓ How do these rules influence my daily undertakings?
✓ Are all these things congruent with my self-ideal?
 ✓ How can I make the necessary adjustments to match my self-image with my self-ideal?
• Your objective is to reach congruence in these areas. Your self-image will never directly align
with your self-ideal. However, you can certainly make the necessary adjustments to your
mindset to move in the right direction.
• To assist you with this transition process, it’s necessary to give yourself time for meditation
and visualization.
• Meditation will help clear the clutter in your brain. It will encourage you to think and act more
mindfully throughout the day. This will subsequently improve your ability to make effective
decisions.
• Visualization, on the other hand, can provide you with the necessary vision you need to better
understand your future direction. This will likewise help you lay down a much clearer path
toward your desired outcomes.
• Remember, that how you think about things has a lot to do with your perceptions and
interpretations of reality.
• For instance, interpreting things one way will give you access to a particular set of resources
and opportunities. However, interpreting things another way will provide you with access to
a different set of resources and opportunities. Ironically, it might even deny you access
altogether.
• It’s therefore paramount to keep in mind that how you frame and/or reframe your experiences
essentially determines what you gain or lose from those experiences.
• Therefore, when problems arise, it’s not what happens to you, but how you interpret what
happens that makes all the difference.

Transform Your Physiology:

• When it comes to our physiology, it’s important to remind ourselves that the body and mind
are intrinsically connected.
• What this essentially means is that how you think and how you emotionalize your
experience influences how you use your physiology. Likewise, how you use your
physiology influences how you think and emotionalize your experiences. They are both
interconnected, and therefore what you do to one directly influences the other.
• With that in mind, have a think about your body and how you use it throughout the day. Do
you move your body with confidence, or do you tend to move it sluggishly? What about
your breath and posture? What’s that like?
 • By making small adjustments to your physiology, you will indirectly influence your inner
world. And as your inner world changes you will begin bridging the gap between where you
are today and your ideal self.
• Improve Your Lifestyle Choices
• When it comes to your lifestyle, you need to start making some better choices that will help
move you toward your ideal self. Ask yourself:
✓ What kind of life does my ideal self live?
✓ How often does my ideal self exercise?
✓ What kind of food does my ideal self eat?
✓ In what kind of environment does my ideal self spend the majority of time?
✓ What does my ideal self spend time on?
✓ How does my ideal self tend to work? Where? On what?
✓ What kind of lifestyle choices does my ideal self make?
✓ How can I begin bridging the lifestyle gap between where I am today and my ideal self
of tomorrow?
• As you go through these questions, you will get a strong sense of the changes you might
need to make to bridge the gap between where you are today and your ideal self.
• Above all else, keep reminding yourself that it’s all about reaching a state of congruence
where your current self (self-image) matches your future self (self-ideal) on as many levels
as possible.

Strengthen Your Self-Confidence:

• When you have an unhealthy self-concept, you will typically struggle with your self-
confidence.
• When you struggle with self-confidence, you’re often very susceptible to falling prey to
rejection, to criticism, to judgment, and to the influence of others.
• To strengthen your self-confidence, you need to explore self-love. Before you can feel
confident in the external world, you must first find confidence in yourself — which that
comes through self-love.
• Self-love means fully accepting yourself despite your flaws, despite your weaknesses, and
despite your inadequacies. It means feeling comfortable in your own skin no matter what
you look like or how you feel.
• To find your self-love, spend time with yourself. However, don’t just spend time
watching mindless television. Actually, spend time pampering yourself. Get a massage,
enjoy a hot sauna, go for a nature walk, etc.
• First and foremost, the key is to reconnect with yourself. It’s only when you’ve found that
connection with yourself will you then tap into your true sense of confidence.

Gain Relevant Knowledge and Skills:

• Your ideal self-has certain skills, knowledge, and abilities. Identify what these things are
and then go to work acquiring the relevant knowledge and skills you need to help you bridge
the gap between your self-image and self-ideal.
• You will often find the information you need in books, by taking courses, by volunteering
your time to a cause, or by connecting with people who already have the knowledge and
skill you desire.
• You could, for instance, get a mentor or life coach. Find someone who could guide you
along your journey toward your self-ideal.

Build Your Support Network:

• As you work on developing your knowledge and skills, you will most certainly need support
along your journey.
• You will need people to help you through the tough times and struggles. You will need
people that can be relied upon for emotional support. And you will need people who will

accept you unconditionally without the strings.

• These people must, of course, be positive, inspiring, creative, passionate, and caring. They
must be giving and generous, joyful, and happy souls. These are the kinds of people that
should comprise your support network.
• Your support network might, for instance, be made up of friends, colleagues, family
members, life coaches and/or mentors.
• These people will be there to prop you up when you’re facing difficulties. They will be there
to help keep you motivated, focused, and inspired as you make progress toward your ideal
self.
• Use your support network for guidance and direction. However, please don’t give up control
of your own life by putting your destiny in other people’s hands. This will never work out
well in the long-run. You must be in charge of your own choices and decisions.
• To be in charge means not concerning yourself with what others think. It means not
worrying about criticism or rejection. And it means not comparing yourself with others.
• You are on your own unique path. These people are there to support you, but ultimately you
make the final decision that determines the direction you will take.

Set Inspiring Goals:

• Having inspiring goals means that your life has purpose and meaning. This keeps you
motivated and active.
• However, you don’t just want to set random goals. You actually want to set goals that match
your self-ideal. So ask yourself:
✓ What goals is my ideal self working towards?
✓ What purpose is my ideal self striving for?
✓ What inspires and motivates my ideal self?
• Once you have your answers to these questions, set some inspiring goals and lay down
a plan of action that will help you bridge the gap between where you are today and where
you ideally would like to be in the future.

Concluding Thoughts:
• Building a healthy and robust self-concept no doubt takes some work and consistent effort.
In fact, it takes time.
• This isn’t something that you can build or transform overnight. Likewise, it isn’t something
that you work through once and then forget about for the rest of your life.
• Transforming your self-concept is something that you need to work on consistently over
time. It’s something that must continuously change and evolve as you reach new
milestones along your life’s journey.
• However, this journey certainly doesn’t need to be difficult. There is no need to complete
this process in one go.
• Take your time. Set small daily objectives, and over many weeks, months and years you
will make considerable progress as you sculpt who you are and whom you desire to
become.
Conclusion:
I would like to conclude by saying that health is a beautiful & precious jewel for a person. It
depends upon us that how we take care of our self because this is a parameter on which whole
other aspects of life depends e.g., physical, mental, social etc. The state of weak health will be
going to invite many other diseases.

Bibliography:
https://airbrake.io/blog/sdlc/conceptual-model
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conceptual_model

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-concept-2795865