How to improve your Self Esteem?
Hello February, phew where did January go? Well, it is almost Valentines Day and time of the year when people really celebrate love and their relationships. However, for many people especially if they are single, in a complicated relationship or feeling disconnected from their partners or loved ones, this can be a difficult time. If you feel your self esteem is being affected by your relationship status or even if you are in a loving partnership but are feeling insecure or struggling with self esteem issues then please know that you are not alone. You can enhance your self esteem by working on some concrete strategies. Although, we are not digging deep in this post about causes of self esteem issues ( many times there is a history of being bullied, conditioned a certain way or feelings of loneliness, or being misunderstood which then can affect our self perception), it is really important to consider, what can be done about it.
Some ways to improve self-esteem, can include the following:
Challenge negative thoughts: Recognize and challenge negative thoughts about yourself, and replace them with more positive and realistic thoughts. Go aherad, give it a try. Pick a thought in your head right now or a thought pattern that is a constant or most frequent visitor in your head and then try replacing it with a different version of the storyline.
You need something to feel good about. So tap into your strengths or do some volunteer work - giving sometime to someone selflessly that adds into your ‘I am a good person; this feels nice; this is awesome’ bucket. We all need a feel good bucket. What are you good at? One time a client who was a great painter, decided to give lessons to his neighborhood children at a discounted price and those who couldnt afford them got them for free. He told me that it was his favourite time of the week to engage in this activity and it added to his sense of worth after some failed relationships which left him heart broken.
Practice self-care: Engage in activities that are good for your body and soul, such as exercise, meditation, and spending time in nature or with people who truly care about you.
Set realistic goals: Set achievable goals for yourself and work towards them, which can help you feel a sense of accomplishment and pride. What have you achieved so far in your life that you can proud of? These accomplishments could be academic, professional pusuits or may be you just got your drivers license.. yay something to celebrate.
Surround yourself with positive people: Spend time with people who support and encourage you, rather than those who bring you down. Distance yourself from energy suckers, or those who engage in toxic positivity. Perhaps listen to inspiring podcasts, ted talks, read about biographies/ autobiographies of people you admire or aspire to be like.
Seek professional help: Consider seeing a therapist or counselor if your self-esteem issues are impacting your daily life and are barrier to your sense of well being. Allow a professional to help you make sense of your experiences.
Remind yourself that inner healing journey can be long, arduous, challenging but so worth it. Improving your self-esteem takes time and effort, but with patience and persistence, you can learn to feel better about yourself. Start with one small step today - go ahead and compliment yourself.
