Self-esteem is one of the most important things you can have in life. Without it, there’s no way we can think and act like ourselves. Self-esteem is a process that develops over time. It starts when you feel like you are capable of something. As you get older, your self-esteem always seems to rise as more people notice how good you are at things. This might seem like a small thing, but it actually helps to build a better sense of yourself.
If you constantly look forward to spending quality time with yourself, then this changes very quickly indeed. You begin to see that what it takes to be happy isn’t as hard as it seems. You also start to see that everything in your life can be filled with joy and fulfilment if you just do the right thing and take care of yourself first. Caring for yourself isn’t difficult if you follow these steps:
Recognize your strengths.
The first step to improving your self-esteem is to recognize what you have. This might be the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning. It may be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re in the middle of doing something you love. Whatever it might be, start by saying to yourself: “This is what I’m good at, this is who I am, and this is who I want to be.” Remember: no two people are the same.
The best way you can identify your strengths is to look at how you’re doing on a by-the-numbers scale. Are you feeling really good about yourself today? Then take this scale and put it parallel with your weaknesses. The other side of the scale might be really low on your part, but still really high for the people around you. This way, you’ll know exactly where you need to improve. And you’ll be able to pinpoint any particular areas where you need extra help.
Learn to be assertive.
A sense of self-confidence comes with a lot of responsibility, and you’re most definitely not the one who has to take it. But as we grow older, we also begin to realize that what we do have control over is just as important as who we are. It also happens to be one of the most important things we can do to improve our self-esteem. If you find yourself shy or unsure of what to do next, take a step back and take stock of your life. Are you actually capable of doing it? If the answer is no, then get started today. Start small. Everyone gets better with practice.
Learn to say “no”.
No one ever told you that you have to say “yes” first? Don’t you sometimes feel like you’re waiting for something to happen when you don’t do anything? Something might come up, but you don’t have to be stuck in a rut waiting for it to happen. No, no, no! If you find yourself avoiding doing things because you’re “waiting,” you might as well start doing them right away.
Take challenges.
If you’ve been feeling like you’ve been put on a diet, you’re probably on the right track. But there are challenges and workouts you can do at home that will help you feel a lot more confident. Exercise can be a great way to improve your self-esteem. It can also improve your health. A study done in 2006 found that people who exercise regularly report feeling more energy and fewer muscle spasms than those who don’t exercise. It’s also been shown to help with acne.
Write down your thoughts.
This might seem like a conservative thing to do, but it really works in this case. If you’ve been feeling like you’ve been put on a diet, you probably think about it a lot. You probably start to lose weight, but you don’t really think about why. You just start to feel more confident, and you even start to feel happy. Also, try this with your thoughts: “This is what I’m good at, this is who I am, and this is what I want to be.”
Take Care of Yourself.
The most important thing you can do for your self-esteem is to take care of yourself. If you’re not taking care of yourself, then how can anyone else in your position feel confident enough to do what they love? When you feel like you’re not doing enough, it’s very easy to start worrying: “Why won’t I be enough?” “Am I doing enough?” “What can I do to be better?” But this only makes things harder because it tells others that you don’t think enough or you don’t have the energy or desire to do what you love.
If you want to be heard and taken seriously, you have to take care of yourself. Even just a simple meditation exercise can help you feel more confident and in control of your life.
