Low self-esteem can affect nearly every aspect of life. It can impact our relationship with ourselves, our relationships with others, our jobs, and even our health. But we can adjust our self-esteem using practical steps.
BE KIND TO OURSELVES
What we say to ourselves is POWERFUL. Because of this, we can practice being kind to ourselves, and, if/when we do slip up, we try to challenge any negative thoughts we are having.
A good rule of thumb is to speak to ourselves in the same way that we’d speak to our friends. This can be hard at first, but practice makes perfect.
Try: Write down three things that we like about ourselves.
ACCEPT WHO WE ARE
When we measure ourselves against others, we tend to always be found lacking! Instead of resisting or being overwhelmed by negative thoughts or feelings, accept them. We don't have to like them. Just allow us to feel them. Then focus on our own goals and achievements rather than measuring them against someone else’s.
Try: Write down three things we want to improve about ourselves.
GET MOVING AND STAY ACTIVE Take care of ourselves. Follow good health guidelines and eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Limit sweets, junk food, and saturated fats.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week. Exercise is a great way to increase motivation, practice setting goals, and build confidence. Breaking a sweat also cues the body to release endorphins, the feel-good hormones.
Try: Write down at least one way to become active and include this in our daily routines.
WELCOME MISTAKES AS PART OF GROWTH We all make mistakes. If we allow mistakes to define us as “losers” then we will never be able to grow and become the person, we have the capacity to become. If we allow mistakes to help us become the best versions of ourselves, we have the maturity to understand what a gift a mistake can be! Perfection is an unrealistic goal.
Try: Write down three things we’ve learned from a mistake we have made. REMEMBER TO FORGIVE QUICKLY Every single person makes mistakes. Remember, mistakes help us become the best versions of ourselves! We’ve got to make mistakes in order to learn and grow. So, next time we make a mistake, forgive quickly and do not “beat” ourselves up!
Try: Every time we catch ourselves focusing on our mistakes - stop and redirect our attention to something more positive. SURROUND OURSELVES WITH SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE Spend time with people who make us happy. Don't waste time on people who don't treat us well. Find people who encourage us and that make us feel good about ourselves.
Try: Make a conscious effort to increase time with people who have a positive outlook. EMBRACE CHANGE
It’s easy to get hung up on all the things that are out of our control, but it won’t achieve much. Instead, try to focus our energy on identifying the things that are within our control and seeing what we can do about them.
Try: Write down one thing that we’re not happy with, and three ways we could change it.
DO WHAT MAKES US HAPPY Do things we enjoy. Make a list of things we like to do. Try to do something from that list every day or once a week. If we spend time doing the things we enjoy, we’re more likely to think positively.
Try to schedule a little “me time” each day. Whether that’s time spent reading, listening to our favorite music, or watching television on the couch for a bit, if it makes us happy, make time for it.
Try: Write down three activities that make us feel happy and do at least one each day/week CELEBRATE THE SMALL Celebrating small victories is a great way to build self-confidence and start feeling better. No matter how small, no matter how insignificant…small victories are still a victory!
Try: Write down three things we did well at the end of each day. BEING HELPFUL AND CONSIDERATE TO OTHER Be a friend to someone. This boosts moods in both parties. It also makes us feel pretty good about ourselves. Consider others and be aware of their needs. Helping others boosts our mood as well as helping them!
Try: Write down three things we can do to be helpful and considerate towards others and practice at least one each day.
We admit these steps might seem awkward at first. But they'll get easier with practice.
Recognizing the thoughts and beliefs that affect low self-esteem allows us to change the way we think about them. Doing this will help us accept and value ourselves and as our self-esteem increases, our confidence and sense of well-being will rise.
Comentários