Everyone has days when they don’t feel so great about themselves. Maybe you can’t stop thinking about why you didn’t get that promotion or about that time that you got turned down for a date.
As your doctors, we want you to know that it’s entirely normal to have ups and downs when it comes to how you’re feeling about yourself. The important thing is recognizing when you’re in a funk, and taking steps to pull yourself out of it.
Here are things you can try to boost your self-esteem when it starts to dip.
- Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself.
- Do something that makes you feel accomplished, like learning a new skill or hobby.
- Help someone else. Doing something nice for someone else can make you feel good about yourself, too.
- Give yourself some credit. Don’t be so hard on yourself! Acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how big or small.
- Get active. Exercise releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting properties.
- Dress to feel good about yourself. Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident.
- Practice positive self-talk. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. For example, instead of saying “I don’t like the way my body looks,” try “I’m working on taking care of my body by eating healthy and exercising.”
My great grandmother was from Scotland and always used to say in her Scottish accent , “Oh the gift that God would gee (give) us, to see ourselves as others see us.” This can be taken in many ways, but we must recognize that we are often our own worst critic and others see us in a totally different light. Improving self esteem is an inside job and if we can learn to love ourselves more deeply then we can better love and serve others.
Boosting your self-esteem can take time and effort, but it’s worth it, you owe it to yourself. Having a positive opinion of yourself can lead to better mental and overall health.
1 thought on “HOW TO BOOST your SELF-ESTEEM”
Hello,
I would just add that all those listed things are good and valid, however, in my experience many/most people will not succeed in doing these things because they don’t take the time to understand and deal with the underlying negativity cycle. Vulnerability is an important catalyst for change and without recognizing/identifying the negativity and where it is coming from, it is unlikely that people will change.
Thanks for caring for humankind in your corner of the world!
All the best!
Andy Martin