Self- esteem is defined as how we value and perceive ourselves. Self- esteem describes one's level of confidence in his/her abilities and attributes. Self-esteem is made up of your view of all the things that define you as a person, including your personality, accomplishments, talents, capabilities, background, experiences, relationships and physical body as well as how you perceive others see you. Self- esteem has a major influence on people's choices and decisions, which is why it is necessary to have a high self-esteem.
Low self-esteem may manifest in a variety of ways. These are traits that show that you have low self- esteem;
⦁ Difficulty in expressing your needs
⦁ Believing that others are better than you.
⦁ Focusing much on your weaknesses
⦁ Having trouble setting boundaries and saying "no"
⦁ Having low confidence
⦁ Putting other people's need before yours
⦁ Having negative outlook on life and feel a lack of control
⦁ Having an intense fear or failure
If you have low self-esteem, you may hide yourself away from social situations, stop trying new things, and avoid things you find challenging. In the short term avoiding challenging and difficult situations might make you feel safe. In the longer term, this can backfire because it reinforces your underlying doubts and fears. It teaches you the unhelpful rule that the only way to cope is by avoiding things.
Living with low self-esteem can harm your mental health and lead to problems such as depression and anxiety. You may also develop unhelpful habits such as smoking and drinking too much, as a way of coping.
Since having a high self-esteem is important, there are several steps you can take to improve your self-esteem and have a high confidence in your own self and abilities. These steps may be useful but bear in mind that individuals have distinctive characteristics and different things work for different people at different times. Let us go straight into them.
1. KNOW WHO YOU ARE
Take time to know yourself. Know your strengths and your weaknesses. Get to know things that excite you and things you value great in life. Knowing yourself can make you accept who you are and what you believe in. Say positive things to yourself and avoid having negative thoughts.
2. AVOID COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS
Many people have low self-esteem because they always compare themselves to others. God created every individual with some distinctive features that makes everyone unique from the other. Comparing yourself and your successes to that of others may make you think low of yourself. Focus on your unique features and appreciate who you are, by doing that, you will boost your self-esteem and confidence and can help you achieve great things for yourself.
3. KNOW WHEN TO SAY "NO"
Being assertive can be difficult if you are not used to it. But agreeing on too many things to please others can be draining. Those with low self- esteem often feel they have to say yes to other people, even when they do not really want to. Saying "no" to others when you do not not want to could help you pause, take a breath, and think about how you feel before agreeing to do something you do not want to.
4. BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND SUPPORT NETWORK
The kind of people around you can also have influence on your self-esteem. Spend more time with people who make you feel good about yourself and build good relationships with them. Making connections with people who have similar or shared experiences can help. Lastly, talk to someone you trust about your issues and problems.
5. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
A lot of people have low self-esteem because they do not get time for themselves. Looking after yourself and staying healthy can help boost your confidence and your self-esteem. In taking care of yourself, you should consider the following measures;
⦁ Eat a healthy diet
⦁ Get regular exercise
⦁ Have enough sleep/rest
⦁ Avoid smoking, alcohol and other drugs that are harmful to the body.
⦁ Focus on your mental health.
Read more on how to stay healthy here.
The impact of having high self-esteem affect almost every aspect of your life as an individual. Low self-esteem is never an option. In the United States, February is a month to boost your self-esteem. Follow these simple steps and it will go a long way to improve your self-esteem. Thank you for reading.
REFERENCES
1. Self- Esteem (August 2022) published by mind.org.uk
2. Raising low self-esteem (February 2020) published by nhs.uk
3. Kendra Cherry (November 2022) What is Self-Esteem published by verywellmind.com
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