At one point in our lives, we have all dealt with self-esteem issues. As children, we worried about making and keeping friends. As teenagers, we felt cursed with pimples and body issues. Even as adults, we often question our own importance in terms of self, family and career. If you have ever been stricken with a bout of low self-esteem or if your feelings of self-worth are currently sagging, it is important to pull yourself out of these negative thoughts as quickly as possible.
What many people do not realize is that self-esteem is an internal issue. You will hear people say things like, “If I lost 40 pounds, my outlook would be different,” or “Winning some money would solve all of my problems.” Unfortunately, working out until you look like a model or waiting until you suddenly come into money will not cure your self-esteem issues. Look around sometime at those around you and see for yourself. The happy people in the park aren’t always the most beautiful women or the most athletic men, nor are they always the richest people. The happiest people will always be those who take a look in the mirror every morning and like what they see, are proud of what they have become and are excited as to where they is going. If you want to be in this group, here are some ways to improve your self-esteem.
It may sound silly but write down a list of your strengths. What are you good at? What do people always commend you on? What makes you excited? Do what you can to enhance these natural talents and build on them every day. In turn, utilize your talents and abilities to help those around you. For instance, if people are always saying that your cakes are the best they have ever tasted, be proud of that talent. Learn new recipes and try them out on friends and families. Give baking lessons to anyone who is interested or bake cakes and donate them for special occasions, like charity events or fundraisers.
Ignore your negative thoughts. Each person’s worst critic is not even one step away. We are all our own worst critics. When you feel yourself starting to berate your own actions or critique your own performance, push down these negative thoughts and, instead, think of the positive aspects. Maybe you just gave a speech and stumbled through a few lines in the beginning. Your inner critic will not care that the speech may have been profound and enlightening. It will focus on that one blunder in the midst of your performance. Ignore that critic and think instead of the people who came up to you afterwards to commend you on a job well done. For each negative thought that surfaces in your mind, create a counter positive thought.
Speak your mind. Have you ever been in a class where the teacher asked a question that you thought you knew the answer to, but you kept your hand down? Maybe you have been in a situation where people voiced their opinions on a topic and you kept quiet even though you felt strongly about what you believed. It may be hard to speak out that first time for one of two reasons. Either you are scared that you may sound dumb or you are afraid others will not want to hear what you have to say. Ignore these irrational fears and make your voice heard. You may find that others will begin to look to you for your opinion and input and it will be easier to speak your mind.
Volunteer your time to help out others who are less fortunate. If you love children, become a mentor for a child in a local school. Maybe you could donate your time by volunteering at a hospital. If you love to sing, get a group together to sing carols over the holidays at a retirement home or hospital ward. When you take time out of your own schedule to help others, you will realize that your own issues may seem trivial when compared to those who you are helping. You will see that you have made a difference in somebody else’s life through their gratitude or through their smiles. In turn, you will see how important you are to somebody else and how important you should be to yourself.
