Our self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. Self-esteem is your opinion of yourself and your abilities. It can be high, low or somewhere in-between. While everyone occasionally has doubts about themselves, low self-esteem can leave you feeling insecure and unmotivated, and it can stop you from living the life you want to live. When it comes to your self-worth, only one opinion truly matters, your own. Although even that; should be carefully evaluated because we tend to be our own harshest critics.
Nothing is more important than how you feel and think about yourself. So here are some tips to help boost your self esteem.
Be mindful and aware
We can’t change something if we don’t recognize that there is something to change. By simply becoming aware of our negative self-talk, we begin to distance ourselves from the feelings it brings up. This enables us to identify with them less. Without this awareness, we can easily fall into the trap of believing our self-limiting talk. “Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are just thoughts.”
As soon as you find yourself going down the path of self-criticism, gently note what is happening, be curious about it, and remind yourself, “These are thoughts, not facts.”
Avoid comparing yourself to others
Learn to practice acceptance and stop comparing yourself to other. Just because someone else appears happy on social media or even in person doesn’t mean they are happy. Comparisons only lead to negative self-talk, which leads to anxiety and stress. Feelings of low self-worth can negatively affect your mental health as well as other areas in your life, such as work, relationships, and physical health. When we learn to appreciate ourselves, we begin to see the hidden values and abilities we have; which can spring up positive changes in our lives.
You don’t have to be perfect
Always strive to be the best version of yourself, but it’s also important to accept that perfection is an unrealistic goal because few thought habits can be so destructive in daily life as perfectionism. It can paralyze you from taking action because you become so afraid of not living up to some standard. And so you procrastinate and you do not get the results you want. This will make your self-esteem sink.
Exercise
Studies have shown that there is a correlation between exercise and higher self-esteem, as well as improved mental health. Exercising creates empowerment both physically and mentally. Exercise organizes your day around self-care. Other forms of self-care, such as proper nutrition and sufficient sleep, have also been shown to have positive effects on one’s self-perception.