Improving Self-Esteem
Having a healthy self-esteem is an essential part of living a happy and successful life. In order to improve one’s self-esteem, it is important to be aware of the strategies that can be used to feel positive about ourselves.
What is self-esteem?
Self-esteem is how we view and value ourselves. It can be linked to our personal opinions and beliefs and play a large role in how confident we feel. When we have a healthy self-esteem, we may feel more positive about ourselves and be better able to deal with life stressors. When our self-esteem is low, though, we may feel more negative and critical about ourselves and be less able to take on life stressors.
What causes low self-esteem and how does it impact us?
Low self-esteem can be a result of childhood experiences, expectations of others (such as parents or teachers), stress, difficult events, and negative thinking patterns. Eventually, low self-esteem can lead to perfectionism, fear of judgment, low resilience, lack of self-care, negative feelings, avoidance, fear, isolation, etc. This can ultimately reduce the quality of a person’s life.
How to improve self-esteem
Self-awareness is an important prerequisite for self-improvement and personal growth, yet it can often be overlooked. Engaging in reflective activities and self-reflection, identifying and challenging cognitive biases, and cultivating a growth mindset are all effective strategies for developing self-awareness. Reflective activities are activities which allow individuals to examine their thoughts, feelings, and behaviour, while self-reflection involves reflecting on one's own values, skills, and goals. Identifying and challenging cognitive biases can help individuals become aware of how their own biases influence the way they perceive and act in certain situations. Finally, cultivating a growth mindset involves constantly challenging oneself to learn and develop, which can lead to self-discovery and an increased sense of self-awareness. All of these strategies can help individuals gain insight into who they are and how they can improve.
Another way to enhance self-esteem is to build healthy habits. Habits such as exercising regularly, eating healthy, and creating a daily routine can all contribute to improved self-esteem. Creating a daily routine can also provide structure and help someone stay organized. In addition, forming habits and sticking to them can give one a sense of accomplishment and pride. This, in turn, can lead to improved self-esteem. All of these habits can be difficult to form and maintain, but with dedication and consistency, they can help one improve their self-esteem and overall wellbeing.
Additional tips for improving self-esteem
Recognize what you’re good at. We’re all good at something, and we tend to enjoy the things that we’re good at which in turn can boost our moods.
Build positive relationships. People that bring you down can harm your self-esteem, so it’s important to ensure that you surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself.
Be kind to yourself. Be gentle and try to steer from being self-critical.
Learn to be assertive. Let the “real” you come out by respecting your opinions and needs.
Start saying “no” -> People with low self-esteem may have a harder time saying no to other people, but saying no can allow us to respect our needs and value our boundaries.
Improving self-esteem is a necessary step in building and sustaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle. It isn't always easy but it is an incredibly important skill to have in any stage of life. By understanding the roots of self-esteem, managing negative emotions, and building upon your personal strengths, anyone can start to improve their self-esteem and recognize their own worth in a healthy and respectful way.
References
Department of Health & Human Services. (2008). Self esteem. Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/self-esteem
NHS. (n.d.). Raising low self-esteem. NHS choices. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/tips-and-support/raise-low-self-esteem/
https://thecounselingteacher.com/2020/10/5-must-have-habits-of-high-self-esteem-to-teach-your-students.html