It’s been said that self-esteem is the reputation you have with yourself. Maintaining your self-esteem during a job search can help to reduce the impact of the stress — or at least how you PERCEIVE and EXPERIENCE your situation. It would be nearly impossible for you to be unaware of recent economic events or employment challenges in today’s “New Normal.” Yet, I’m concerned that the heightened media coverage (and your 24-7 access to information) might cause you to become over-anxious and overlook potential opportunities.

It’s great when the images and messages you receive about your abilities are positive; this can be very empowering. Sometimes, though, negative images or messages pop up when you’re in problematic work or personal situations and they almost seem to control you. Does this ever happen to you? You’re not alone. People often say they can’t help thinking this way; yet you CAN coach yourself into “flipping the script” to a more positive outlook. HOW?

The first step is moving to a higher level of awareness of your own “self-talk” — begin to think about specific things you say to yourself about your appearance, your behavior, your abilities, your chances of achieving your goals. You may want to start a journal to record these messages when you can. Next, do a quick tally — how many are positive? How many are negative? How does each set make you feel?

Now that you have a higher awareness of the types of messages, you can begin to “flip the script” in your mind. When you hear your negative messages and begin to feel badly, say, “STOP!” and replace the thought or message with a more positive and accurate statement. Try this when you encounter difficult interactions or challenges during your search. It may take time for it to become a habit; the goal is to maintain a more positive sense of yourself and minimize your stress in difficult situations.

Even I’m not immune to negative “self-talk.” What has worked for me is to post my positive messages in areas of my office where I can see them when I need a boost. I’ve also created a daily “task” in Outlook with a series of positive affirmations that I can repeat at the start of my day. I also balance the amount of news coverage that I watch (difficult for a former die-hard-CNBC junkie!) so that I can receive fewer external negative messages to “flip.” Lastly, I strive to adhere to my “Right People, Right Energy” mantra — or as my pal Kevin Carroll says: “Stay away from energy vampires!”

That way, you’re able to maintain a higher level of creativity, energy, inspiration and “buzz” in your daily activities. This doesn’t change the economic landscape or employment outlook; it DOES change how you perceive your ability to address the situations and attract new partners and opportunities.

These are a few suggestions. Post or tweet to let me know what you’re doing to stay positive, achieve your goals, and attract abundance into your personal and professional lives.