Self-esteem is the result of being proud of yourself for your actions, and also for the person you are.
People with a healthy self-esteem are able to feel good about themselves, appreciate their worth, and take pride in their abilities, skills, and accomplishments. When we feel good about who we are and how we behave in life, we have good esteem.
Healthy self-esteem is important because you are more likely to take positive risks, cope with the changes and challenges of life, set realistic goals for yourself, bounce back when life smacks you with problems, and have a positive attitude toward life. It takes some work to develop a healthy self-esteem but once you do, it becomes a skill you will have for life.
We all experience problems with self-esteem at certain times in our lives, especially as teenagers when we are figuring out who we are and how we fit in the world. Low self-esteem may feel as if no one will like us or accept us or that we cannot do well in anything. Low self-esteem is often connected to depression, anxiety and many more mental health problems. So if you feel that your self-esteem is not all it could be, these steps can help you start empowering yourself.
- Think about positive aspects of yourself. Each day, say something positive about you and write down things about you that make you happy.
- Write down things you did or ways you acted that made you feel proud.
- By keeping an “I-did-it” list daily, you can collect and store pride. Think about how you helped someone or how you solved a problem or handled a situation.
- Use positive self-talk. Instead of focusing on something you are frustrated about, think about something you are proud of.
- Spend time with people who love you.
- Give praise to others.
- Do good for others. Make a contribution, be helpful, volunteer or participate in a good cause.
- Aim for accomplishments and set realistic goals for yourself. Think about what you are good at and what you enjoy doing and go for it.
- Try new things and take pride in new skills you develop.
- Expect to make mistakes and view them as learning opportunities.
- Recognize what you can change and what you cannot.
- Be proud of your opinions and ideas.
- Exercise, it relieves stress and makes you feel healthier and happier.
- Have fun! Enjoy spending time with those you care about and doing the things you love.
