Do you constantly compare yourself to others and feel like you fall short? Do you put yourself down frequently or allow others to treat you poorly without standing up for yourself? Are you afraid to take risks or put yourself out there lest you be rejected? Do you find yourself second-guessing your decisions or questioning your ability to succeed? If yes, then these are some telltale signs that may indicate that your self-esteem needs some work.
The first step in repairing self-esteem is to understand what self-esteem is. Self-esteem or self-confidence is the self-opinion and beliefs about oneself. Generally speaking, it refers to one’s sense of overall worth and is branched into: low, healthy, and excessive. Healthy self-esteem acts as a catalyst for your mental well-being. However, having self-esteem that is either too high or too low can lead to depression and anxiety.
Self-esteem is hard to regain when it is damaged. But it is possible to rebuild our self-esteem, and here, we’ll explore some ways to do that.
Tips for rebuilding self-esteem after it’s damaged:
1. Accept your feelings: We go through a range of emotions that cannot be reduced but can give rise to another. It’s normal to feel down. Make time for yourself to process your feelings and talk to someone you trust.
2. Positive self-talk: Give yourself a pep talk and remind yourself about your strengths and capabilities that can overcome any challenges that come your way. Get engaged in positive self-talk, which means talking to yourself in a supportive, affirming, and encouraging tone. It may sound simple, but it can make a big difference.
3. Seek professional help: If you’re struggling to overcome low self-esteem on your own, it may be time to seek professional help. A therapist can help you identify the root of the problem and work on developing healthy coping mechanisms.
4. Invest in yourself: To feel good about yourself, you must invest in yourself. Make sure you’re eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Taking care of your physical health will boost your self-esteem.
5. Dodge escape mechanisms: Low self-esteem often leads to hiding away from social situations, escaping from doing new things, and avoiding challenges. An escape mechanism might make you feel safe for a short period but later can backfire because it reinforces your underlying doubts and fears. Thus, face the current situation.
6. Self-Gratitude: Self-gratitude is a practice of expressing gratitude to oneself. Be appreciative of yourself by recognizing your personality traits, abilities, skills and talents, knowledge, style, choices, and physical appearance.
7. Be Patient: It takes time to build up self-esteem. Be patient with yourself, and don’t expect things to change overnight. Just keep working on it, and eventually, you’ll start feeling better about yourself.
8. Take one step at a time: Trying to make too many changes at once can be mind-boggling. Break things down into smaller steps, set a short-to-mid-term goal, and focus on taking things one at a time, which will help you feel a sense of accomplishment once you have done what you have set out to do. It is possible to rebuild self-esteem after it’s damaged. This process requires self-awareness, willingness to change, and seeking outside support. With these steps, it is possible to improve self-esteem and create a more positive self-image.