5 Tips to Strengthen Your Self-Esteem
Self-esteem consists of the confidence you have in yourself and the feelings you have deep down about your self worth. It also deals with how much respect you have for yourself. Self-esteem influences many aspects of our lives. It is a determining factor in how we relate to others, the decisions we make, and our outlook on the world. As a therapist and counselor I always emphasize to my clients that a strong and healthy self-esteem is a quintessential ingredient in being a happy and successful person. Research has shown that people with low self-esteem are at a higher risk to suffer from anxiety and depression. Below I share 5 tips that you can use to improve your self-esteem.
Tip #1: Stop being your biggest critic
Have you ever stopped to truly pay attention to how you speak to yourself? Notice how much you criticize yourself or beat yourself up and then make a commitment to stop. Think of how you would talk to a loved one and use that kind of supportive and caring language with yourself.
Tip #2: Make a list
Take the time to recognize all the great traits that you possess and all the accomplishments you have made. Make an actual list of all the things that you like about yourself, compliments and accolades others have given you, and things that you have accomplished.
Tip #3: Make realistic goals
Think of the things that you want to accomplish and set personal goals for yourself. Set realistic goals so that you can actually achieve them. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and success to boost your confidence. Also set up a reward system for every goal that you meet to incentivize yourself to keep achieving more.
TIP #4: Don’t make comparisons
Comparing yourself to others is a dangerous trap. It is not healthy nor realistic to compare yourself to other people. Often times when we compare ourselves to others we do it with a skewed perspective and place them in a much more positive light and ourselves in a more negative light. Appreciate what makes you unique and sets you apart from others.
TIP #5: Be positive
Instead of constantly telling yourself you are not good enough or beating yourself down try using positive affirmations to counterbalance the negativity. Check out my blog post on how to create and use positive affirmations //www.essenceofhealingcounseling.com/anxiety/using-positive-affirmations-to-combat-anxiety-and-depression/
A few examples of positive affirmations that you can use for self-esteem are:
- I deeply love and accept myself.
- I believe in myself and my abilities.
- I feel confident and secure.
- My family and friends love me for who I am.
- I value and respect myself.
As a therapist and counselor I am always emphasizing to my clients that having a healthy self-esteem can change their life for the better. Imagine how feeling good about yourself can help you make better decisions, relate to others better, and feel better overall. Improving your self-esteem can even help fight off anxiety and depression. Try these tips to strengthen your self-esteem and start living a happier life.
About the Author & Essence of Healing Counseling
Roberta Alves is a therapist and counselor at the Essence of Healing Counseling in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. She is a Certified Anxiety Specialist and uses a scientific and evidence based type of therapy called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Research has shown that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is proven to be extremely effective in treating anxiety. Roberta is truly passionate about the work she does and loves serving her clients in Ft. Lauderdale and the surrounding South Florida areas. If you want to learn the proven techniques to overcome your anxiety, schedule an appointment today.
