How to Increase Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence: 10 Practical Tips
Self-esteem can be defined as an inner image of ourselves. However, this assessment is strongly influenced by a number of external factors.
When you think of yourself, you recall all the things other people have ever said about you, especially during your childhood. How many times did the judging voice of one of your parents resound within you, preventing you from fully expressing yourself?
People develop low self-esteem due to particularly unpleasant events, such as bullying at school, sexual harassment, or physical illnesses.
All these external factors determine one’s self-esteem, both in a positive and a negative sense. Having a proper perception of self-worth means that you feel confident, believe in your abilities, and present yourself to the outside world with a firmness that shines through your every move.
However, self-esteem shouldn’t be considered as something unmodifiable. In fact, it can be changed throughout the course of one’s life. However, you need to work really hard to achieve that. Anyone can improve their self-image. Still, they must be willing to give up their old beliefs and concentrate on developing their best qualities.
Identifying Low Self-Esteem
People with low self-esteem feel the need in approval from the outside. The more they do it, the more they’re likely to encounter failures and frustrations and feel very sad about themselves. Low self-esteem manifests itself in a number of different ways, such as:
- A tendency to doubt oneself
- Inability to decide independently
- Constant self-blame
- Little confidence
- Contempt for one’s body
- No love for oneself
10 Tips For Boosting Self-Esteem
How can self-esteem be increased? Our 10 practical tips will help you do just that!
1. Become Aware of Your Inner Power
The first step to gaining confidence and improving self-esteem is to become aware of your inner power. Each of us has what it takes to follow our own path. If you keep letting others make decisions for you, you will never be able to live the life you have always wanted.
2. Enough with Victimization
Negative and painful events occurring in our lives leave deep emotional wounds and scars. However, this should not turn into an alibi to justify one’s passiveness and inaction. We often bask in the idea that life has been too hard for us and, therefore, we shouldn’t move forward. It is a dangerous thought, and if you keep having it, you risk losing something beautiful within you.
3. Silence Your Inner Judges
A rigid mother, a demanding professor, and an autocratic boss — all these people risk becoming your internal voices for the rest of your life. Get rid of them and start thinking about something good. For example, you don’t need to judge yourself for browsing through https://custom-essays-writings.com and ordering a college assignment. You have your own reasons for that, and you deserve a helping hand when it’s needed.
4. Leave Your Comfort Zone
Consider the following questions:
- What do you like?
- Do you have a dream?
- Do you want to try something new?
What if there is something you have been dreamed about, but your doubts were stumbling blocks on your way to happiness. If so, try leaving your comfort zone and discover things you didn’t know are real. You cannot postpone life.
5. Focus on Your Strengths
Another way to increase your self-esteem is to focus on your strengths. Make a list of qualities and life situations in which they could prove to be successful. It won’t take you much time and will help you do some healthy introspection.
6. Do Not Rely on the Judgment of Other People
If you have to make an important decision, don’t rush to ask for someone’s opinion. If you want to get a new job, do it. If you’re going to cut that long hair that has been with you for decades, go to the hairdresser now. Only you can decide what’s best for yourself.
7. Learn to Be Comfortable With Your Body
Our body is ‘a business card’ with which we introduce ourselves to other people. A person who is confident in their looks will act the same way, too. An insecure individual, on the other hand, will tend to hide behind large sweaters, tousled hair, and a dull face. You should, therefore, learn to be comfortable with your body. The way you dress is also an important aspect of the way you feel about yourself.
8. Learn to Laugh at Your Mistakes
If you keep blaming yourself for every failure, you will never succeed in anything. Failures happen to everyone, even those you secretly admire. You should, therefore, learn from your mistakes, so you don’t repeat them the next time.
9. Surround Yourself With People Who Appreciate You
It’s a good idea to surround yourself with people who know how to appreciate you. Sometimes, it can be helpful to re-evaluate your friendships. If you notice that your friends always make fun of your weaknesses, ask yourself if they’re really the kind of people you want to be around. Remember that we tend to surround ourselves with people who reflect our own personalities.
10. Think Positively
If you think positively and learn to truly believe in who you are and what you do, you’ll be able to achieve anything. Remember — negativity only attracts negativity, just like a magnet.