We hear and sometimes even talk about it a lot, but what is self-esteem? The opinions we have of ourselves matter a lot, even more than other people’s opinions of us. Everything about our lives is dependent on how we perceive ourselves. Our level of self-esteem affects our relationships, productivity level, and general view of life.
WHAT IS SELF-ESTEEM?
Self-esteem is how we perceive or place value on ourselves. It is the foundation of self-acceptance and self-love. It is a feeling of worth and value. If we lack this, it is difficult to feel loved or valued by others.
LOW SELF-ESTEEM
Low self-esteem could be the tiny voice in your head that says, “You are too fat; you won’t achieve this; what if you fail?” Sometimes it starts with hating a little bit of yourself. It grows till it becomes a huge feeling of hopelessness or hatred for yourself.
People generally experience low self-esteem at some point in their lives. This could be from childhood bullying or shameful incidents. Other causes include;
- Being abused
- Difficulty getting a job
- Experiencing discrimination or stigma
- Physical or mental problems
- Body appearance
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WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
- Learn to be assertive. Be kind to yourself.
- Recognize your strengths and weaknesses.
Build healthy relationships. A support system can go a long way.
Practice mindfulness. Accept your thoughts.
Move past your mistakes.
Believe you deserve happiness.
Be open to trying out new things.
Speak positive words. You can do it in front of a mirror if that helps.
Practice saying “no.” Don’t be a pushover who agrees with everything people say. Have a mind of your own.
Avoid comparing yourself to others.
Celebrate your wins, no matter how small.
Learn something new. Get a hobby.
Practice self-care. Eat right, sleep well, and exercise.
Learn to accept people’s feedback about you. This could be positive or negative. Either way, you would learn from it.
Having healthy self-esteem is a motivation to complete goals. You can absolutely achieve anything you set your mind to because you believe in yourself. It will help you develop a healthy relationship with yourself and others.
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