Many people suffer from low self-esteem, more so than you think. You may be forgiven for thinking that some people don’t have low self-esteem, however, people can hide how they really feel. For example, you may not know that a close friend has little to no self-esteem. In reality, they may hide behind an outgoing personality or the clothes that they wear. It’s often hard to see who struggles day-to-day.
If you struggle with your self-esteem, there are some things you can do to boost it. You don’t have to be the world’s most confident person, but you can make improvements to how you feel. Here’s how:
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Contents
Understand What Self-esteem is
Some people consider their self-esteem to be related to self-dialogue or inner voice. In other words, it is the voice that tells you if you are good enough. Self-esteem actually relates to how a person values themselves and their perceptions of who they are. It also relates to how capable someone thinks they are of completing a task.
Those who have good self-esteem tend to feel quite positive about themselves. They can also feel positive about life in general. This positivity helps them to better deal with the things that life throws at them.
Low self-esteem
Some people may have low self-esteem because they do not feel as if they lived up to another person’s expectations. Those who are or have been victims of abuse often have low self-esteem. Adults can also experience esteem issues as a result of a relationship or work issues.
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Challenge Your Negative Beliefs
One of the best ways to start building your self-esteem is to challenge your negative beliefs. Notice those negative thoughts that you have about yourself. Look for any evidence that you have to contradict those thoughts. Remind yourself that any negative thoughts you may have are not true.
Identify What You Like About Yourself
The next step in building your self-esteem revolves around identifying what you like about yourself. Think about what you’re good at and the nice things that people have said to you. Whenever you feel low, think about these good things. Chances are you can think of at least a few things that people have said to you.
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Be Kind to Yourself
Being kind to yourself is essential and it can help to boost your self-esteem. It’s ok for you to feel a little down from time to time. It’s ok to not want to go places now and again, and it’s ok to want to be alone at times.
Being kind to yourself involves not criticizing yourself. Imagine if a friend decided to spend the afternoon reading because they didn’t feel like going to the mall. You wouldn’t berate them for not spending time outside. You’d tell them it was ok to spend time reading.
You don’t have to feel positive all of the time, very few people do. If you feel down a lot of the time, you may want to consider asking for some support. You can click the link for more info and ask for help. It’s ok to ask for help if you are struggling. Consider speaking to your doctor, join support groups, and meet with people who are going through something similar.
Be kind to yourself the same way that you would be kind to someone you love. Remember this whenever you are struggling.
Learn How to Say “No”
It’s ok for you to say “No” to something. Those with low self-esteem often struggle to set boundaries. However, not saying “No” can make life even more stressful. A good way for you to stand up for yourself is to imagine that you have good self-esteem.
If someone asks you to do something and you don’t want to, say “No”. You may have to imagine that you feel ok saying “No”, but it’s alright to do this. Friends who respect your “No” are worth keeping as they are ok with you having boundaries.
You may find it hard to say “No”. Remember, you wouldn’t want someone you love to say “Yes” to something they don’t want to do. You would want them to stand up for themselves and say how they feel. Saying “No” to something does not have to be a big deal, it can be simple. For example, if a friend asks you if you want to eat in a certain restaurant, you could say “No, I’d like to eat in this one”. It’s that easy.
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Work On Your Physical Health
Not everyone is aware that working on your physical health can do wonders for your self-esteem. Try to get enough exercise and sleep. Eat a healthy, balanced diet, and make sure you take enough time to relax. When you do all of these things, you’re likely to feel much better.
If your diet is not a good one, it can affect how you feel. If you don’t get enough sleep, again, it can affect how you feel.
Working on your physical health is just as important as working on your mental health. An improvement in your physical health can do a lot for your mental health, without you realizing.
Take Small Steps
Take small steps and don’t expect to feel better right away. Working on your self-esteem can take time. One of the best things that you can do is to work on your self-esteem over the long term. Try not to boost your self-esteem within a month or a few weeks. It just won’t work. Be kind to yourself and work on how you feel one day at a time.
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It is possible for you to improve your self-esteem, however, you will need to work on it. Do what you can to boost your self-esteem and help others who are going through the same. You would be surprised by how many people struggle as much or even more as you do. With a bit of work and patience, you too could start to feel a little better about yourself.
