How to Improve Self-Esteem

How to Improve Self-Esteem

Sometimes, having consistent, positive self-esteem can be difficult. At times, your self-worth is high, and sometimes, life throws challenges your way, which can flood your mind with difficult thoughts and doubt, dropping your self-worth and leaving you feeling sad, depressed, and worthless.

Putting pressure on yourself and working hard to achieve high self-esteem can sometimes be unhealthy. Especially when feelings aren’t being dealt with appropriately. Commit to improving your well-being by learning how to improve self-esteem without the heavy pressures and internal judgement.

Follow these tips to build a positive sense of self-worth and positive self-esteem:

1. Take Some Time to Admire Your Skills – Acknowledging your skills and strengths can improve your self-talk and improve how you see yourself. Focus on what you CAN do and do well! Celebrate you, whenever you can!
2. Set Healthy Boundaries – Stop being a people-pleaser. People with poor self-esteem usually feel obligated to say yes to colleagues, friends, and family members’ requests, despite how the task or conversation may make them feel. It’s nice to be helpful and supportive, but your comfort level and needs should always come first. Your self-esteem usually suffers when your needs aren’t being met and when negative people who tear you down are constantly around you.
3. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others – If you compare yourself to others, you will never win the internal battle you are fighting, whatever it may be. I once was told backstage during a beauty pageant, “There will always be someone better than you. There will always be someone skinnier, richer, prettier, and more educated than you. So don’t compare yourself to anyone other than who you see in the mirror.”  Your only focus should be achieving your personal goals and striving to be the best YOU can be.
4. Forgive Yourself – You are only human, and humans make mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up for the decisions you’ve made in the past. Give yourself some grace. Learn from your mistakes, make necessary changes, and move forward. Stop judging yourself harshly. Be kind to yourself and work to learn to be the best person you can be through the journey.
5. Say Goodbye – Letting negative people go can be very difficult. Why? Usually, it’s someone close to you, like a family member or best friend. We are conditioned to treat family and friends kindly and with unconditional love. However, the people you surround yourself with significantly impact how you feel about yourself, including your mood, and your self-esteem. If someone in your life always makes you uncomfortable, constantly reminds you of your flaws, and makes fun of your mistakes, it might be time to say goodbye. Keeping individuals around who treat you poorly is a significant factor in low self-esteem and self-worth.