Do you tell yourself that you don’t deserve to be happy or get what you want? Do you beat yourself up and feel ashamed over mistakes you’ve made? Do your loved ones tell you that you should stop being so down on yourself, and go after what you want, but you don’t really believe them?
Everyone has the capacity to grow, thrive, and accomplish. Building self-esteem can help you break out of your negative mindset and move forward with greater confidence.
Is low self-worth sabotaging you in many ways?
Low self-esteem is detrimental in so many dimensions. Physically, low self-esteem harms your physical health and has been linked to a suppressed immune system. It can lead to anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction, and substance abuse.
When you think you’re not good enough, it’s just easier to not even go after what you want. You may find yourself holding back from trying to get a promotion, asking someone out on a date, or volunteering to manage a project. Lack of self-worth can cause you to self-sabotage, eventually leading to deep unhappiness.
4 steps to build self-esteem
People and life experiences may have damaged your self-image, but you can take action to recover your self-esteem. Here are practical tools that you can start applying to build self-esteem.
Exercise is a key element in being healthy, and studies have shown that it supports positive feelings and mood. Walking for even a few minutes a day can help brighten your thoughts and give you energy. You can add walking into your day by parking the car farther from work, taking a walk with a friend instead of going to a movie, or stretching your legs during a long day at work. If walking doesn’t appeal to you, find something that does – swimming, dancing, or going to the gym are just a few of the many ways you can boost your endorphins and improve your mood.
Be a friend to yourself. Would you speak to a friend the way you speak to yourself? Or would you build up your friends, cheer them on, and know they have the capabilities to go after their goals and dreams? Begin speaking to yourself the way you speak to your friends, even if you don’t believe it right away. Putting yourself down may sound like it will motivate you to do better, but allowing yourself to be human, make mistakes, and forgive yourself makes you feel better about who you are and what you can achieve.
Confidence is key. Developing skills to get what you want, be it a better job, relationship skills, or something else is important. At the same time, you can act confident, even if you don’t yet fully feel it inside. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that acting confidently makes it easier to go after what you want, and makes it easier for others to believe in you.
Therapy can help. In therapy, you can better understand why self-esteem has been a challenge for you. Once you understand, you are already halfway to working toward feeling truly worthy. In therapy, you will acquire practical tools and coping skills that you can implement in everyday life.
Reach out today
Working together, I will teach you evidence-based techniques to respond to and manage negative emotions so that you can regain control over your life. If you are ready to learn more, you are welcome to call and book your first appointment or fill out my contact form and click Send.
