Conscious and concrete steps towards ‘Self-growth’

‘Self-growth’ will happen when we take certain conscious and concrete steps towards improving our selves so as to fit into the concept of our ‘perfect mental image’. But sometimes, our own mind misleads us with a ‘non-achievable creation of self image' and it makes us chase a goal which is actually non-realistic in nature.
We often tend to create an image of yourselves in our minds - an image of perfection and success. And we often compare our ‘mental image of perfection’ with our actual being. This comparison often leads to self criticism and low self esteem.
When we find our actual self, way different from what we wish ourselves to be, we reject ourselves. This unhealthy comparison between the 'actual self' and the 'image of perfect self' results in lower self-esteem. A sense of 'not good enough' is created and we find difficulty in facing the World as it badly hurts our self-respect and self-confidece.
As we go on chasing this goal which may be way beyond our reach, we sometimes even fall with more loss of self esteem. The feeling of ‘not good enough’ is created by our own self. We lack awareness as to how our mind misleads us. This lack of awareness results in wastage of effort towards achieving a goal which is very high. With awareness of these negative emotional outbursts, we can avoid chasing these false images of perfection.
It’s harsh and un-healthy [mentally] to compare ourselves with anyone in this World or even with our own created ‘self of perfection’. To some extent, working constructively towards a desired goal is what is needed but not beyond a certain limit. Some common goals can be to attain perfection in all spheres of life, to become admirable and respectable by one and all, to do well in the field of education, sports or profession. There is a huge craze to attain a perfect slim and slender figure and a flawless complexion. In the process, specially the teenagers, go to the extent of abnormal behaviour with their family members and peers, if they don’t feel themselves adquete enough to face everyone. Real confidence comes from inner beauty and self esteem. We often come across news of teenagers committing suicide for not being able to perform well in their exams. Performance in academics has nothing to do with achievement of success and happiness in life.
The only solution here is to create a positive self esteem. A positive Self Esteem can be created by accepting and loving ourselves just as we are and not judging ourselves with unrealistic parameters.