Easy Ways to Overcome Low Self-Esteem
Do you constantly doubt yourself and assume negative things just happen to you?
Are you hesitant to take risks or try new things?
Comparing yourself to others constantly?
Do struggle with feeling unlovable, often people please others to seek validation?
These could be signs of low self-esteem. Low self-esteem can affect every aspect of your life, from your relationships to your career. But don’t worry, there are ways to overcome it.
What is Low Self-Esteem?
Low self-esteem is a feeling of inadequacy or inferiority towards oneself. It is often characterized by negative self-talk, low self-worth, and a lack of confidence.
People with low self-esteem tend to have a distorted view of themselves, which can lead to negative emotions, behaviors and avoid challenges. There are several signs that indicate you may be suffering from low self-esteem. These include:
- Negative self-talk, a lack of confidence, and a fear of failure
- You may struggle with anxiety and depression
- Second-guessing yourself and self-critical thoughts
- A constant feeling of stress
- Unhealthy drugs or alcohol consumption
- You may bail from social events, withdraw in group settings and hide yourself away, which can further affect your mental health
- You may also find yourself constantly comparing yourself to others
- Feeling guilty or ashamed, and seeking validation from others
The Effects of Low Self-Esteem on Mental Health
Low self-esteem can have a significant impact on mental health. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. People with low self-esteem may also have difficulty in forming and maintaining healthy relationships, and may struggle with assertiveness.
This can be caused by a variety of factors, including childhood experiences, trauma, and negative life events.
It can also be influenced by societal and cultural pressures, such as unrealistic beauty standards and social media. We are seeing a huge increase in social media impacts since the continuous rise of these apps alongside the internet.
How to Overcome Low Self-Esteem: Tips and Strategies
If you are struggling with low self-esteem, there are several tips and strategies you can use to overcome it. These include challenging negative self-talk, practicing self-care, building mastery and setting realistic goals. Below is a basic 6 Step strategy for improving your self-worth and self-esteem to help you get started on growing self-love.
Seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional can also be very helpful, so bare in mind if its too challenging to do alone – ask for help!
You’ll be surprised – opening up to others about this issue can lead to others feeling comfortable talking about their own self-confidence, and self-worth issues, along with their tips and recommendations to overcome it.
Sharing about this issue may also give way to how much of this stems from feelings and thoughts – not facts, which is the start in diffusing the intensity and ‘believability’ of negative self-criticism.
Your Strategy: 6 Steps to Improve Your Self-Worth
Building self-esteem is a process that takes time and effort. It involves identifying and challenging negative beliefs about yourself, practicing self-compassion, and focusing on your strengths and accomplishments. Setting boundaries and learning to say no can also help improve your self-worth.
Below practical exercises you can do to increase your sense of self-grounding and connectedness, slowing building your .
Start with just 5 minutes of practice of each of these a day, with a day-off on your 7th day.
- Journaling
- Practising gratitude
- Engaging in physical activity
- Build Mastery and develop new skills
- Affirmations
- Visualization techniques
How to Build Self-Confidence
Boosting self-confidence involves developing a positive and realistic view of yourself. This can be achieved by
- Setting and achieving goals
- Practising self-compassion
- Taking small risks
- Facing your fears and stepping out of your comfort zone can also help boost your confidence
- Changing your body language
- Using your voice
- Finding self-acceptance
Take each one of these confidence-building tips and use them to assess where your life is at currently. Are your expectations of yourself too high at work? Are your goals achievable or too much too soon? Are you stuck in your comfort zone or taking small risks for growth and learning?
After re-evaluating, think about how you can apply these tips in small, manageable ways to your life.
Seeking Professional Help for Low Self-Esteem
Sometimes, at the very core of us – the narrative we have about ourselves – can be damaged, fractured and unkind as a result of upsetting experiences, trauma and failures.
Some of these narratives may sound like:
”I’m never good enough”
”Nothing good ever happens to me”
”I’m broken / damaged”
”I’m incapable”
”I’m unlovable”
”Bad things always happen to me”
”I will never have a good life”
If you are experiencing some of these corrupt core narratives, seeking professional help can be very beneficial. A mental health professional can help you identify the root causes of your low self-esteem and develop strategies to overcome it.
They can also provide support and guidance throughout the process of resolving and healing internal wounds and changing the narrative.
In therapy, you can work through unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to low mood, recognise self-sabotaging, challenge negative thinking and form new patterns that make you feel good.
This can take time, and commitment and be a difficult process but is a worthwhile journey to self-love required for confidence building.
Summing up all it
Low self-esteem can be a challenging issue to deal with, but it is possible to overcome it. By understanding the signs, identifying the root causes, and practicing self-care and self-compassion, you can improve your self-worth and build your confidence.
Remember, high self-esteem is not a destination, but a journey. Embrace it and watch your life transform.
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FAQ
Q: What is low self-esteem?
A: Low self-esteem is a negative perception and evaluation of oneself.
People with low self-esteem often lack confidence, overcompensate or withdraw, struggle to leave their comfort zone, struggle with control or lack of, and have a low level of self-worth.
Q: What are the causes of low self-esteem?
A: Low self-esteem can be caused by various factors such as negative life experiences, criticism or abuse, neglect, trauma experiences, negative or complex communities or environments, comparison to others, and unrealistic expectations.
Q: What are the signs of low self-esteem?
A: Signs of low self-esteem include self-criticism, fear of failure, constant need for approval, inability to accept compliments, and avoidance of new challenges.
Q: How can low self-esteem affect you?
A: Low self-esteem can negatively impact your overall well-being and quality of life.
It can contribute to anxiety and depression, hinder your personal growth, and limit your ability to try new things and reach your full potential.
Q: How can I improve my self-esteem?
A: There are various ways to improve your self-esteem. Some tips include practicing self-care, surrounding yourself with supportive people, setting realistic goals, challenging unhelpful thinking, and seeking professional help if needed.
Q: What are some unhelpful thinking patterns that can contribute to low self-esteem?
A: Unhelpful thinking patterns such as negative self-talk, overgeneralization, negative assumptions and magnification of failures can contribute to low self-esteem.
It is important to first identify and then begin to challenge these patterns to improve your self-esteem.
Q: Can talking therapies help in improving low self-esteem?
A: Yes, talking therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion-Focused Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be effective in improving low self-esteem.
Therapists can help you identify your core wounds, facilitate healing and change negative thought patterns to develop healthier self-esteem.
In addition to this, a combination of creative, holistic therapies can also be deeply effective and are increasingly popular, such as Drama Therapy, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, EMDR and Reiki healing practice.
Q: How does surrounding yourself with people who make you feel good help improve self-esteem?
A: Surrounding yourself with positive and supportive individuals can boost your self-esteem. Their encouragement and positive feedback can help you develop a more positive self-perception.
Think about the language, encouragement or discouragement you are surrounded by, including the language and engagement online.
Q: What are some simple ways to overcome low self-esteem?
A: There are several simple ways to overcome low self-esteem. Some examples include practicing self-compassion, engaging in activities you enjoy, celebrating your achievements, and focusing on your strengths.
Aim for small, easy wins – consistently, to see the best results in self-esteem improvement.
Q: Can low self-esteem be linked to anxiety and depression?
A: Yes, low self-esteem is often linked to anxiety and depression. Individuals with low self-esteem are more prone to experiencing negative emotions and may have a higher risk of developing mental health issues without healing and/or supportive interventions.
