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“My self-esteem has been very low for a long time. Sometimes I don’t think I have what it takes to succeed in life. But that’s not helpful—it’s just making me feel worse. What can I do to start feeling better about myself?”
Are you unhappy with the way you look? Do you not feel good enough? Would you like to boost your self-esteem and feel better about yourself? Imagine looking in the mirror, instead of thinking “Ugh, why can’t I look like her?” your reflection reminds you that you are a great person.
It's no secret that having low self esteem is not a good thing. Even if you acknowledge this intellectually, it can be very difficult to make changes that will raise your self-image. If you know you have low self-esteem, and are struggling to fix it, you can benefit from these tips for improving yourself, and boosting your self-esteem so that you feel more fulfilled.
Create a healthy, supportive environment
Bad self-esteem can hurt your chances of success in life. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to improve your self-esteem.
You might succeed at something, then credit “good luck” instead of your effort or skills. To combat this, you must change the way you think about yourself and your capabilities.
Changing your surroundings and your relationships with others can help you feel better about yourself. Focus on ways to improve your environment and the people you spend time with.
Let your positive, supportive self-talk guide you
If you repeatedly tell yourself, "This will never work," or "Everyone is going to laugh at me," you’re going to feel bad about yourself.
If you find yourself overly critical or making negative predictions about your chances of success, stop and ask yourself what you would say to a friend who was thinking the same thing. Chances are, you’d likely offer some compassionate words of encouragement. It’s much easier to be kind to others than it is to be kind to yourself.
But practicing self-compassion can help you feel better about yourself. For example, tell yourself, "You can do this! Do your best and look people in the eye!" Changing your inner dialogue can shift your mindset over time, so your brain will begin to recognize that you’re more capable and competent than you give yourself credit for.
Act as if you feel confident
It's important to change your actions if you want to change your feelings and beliefs about yourself. One therapy strategy is to "act as if." So in your case, it would be to "act as if you were confident." Ask yourself, "What would a confident person do right now?" It might be as simple as shaking hands, introducing yourself, or volunteering to go first.
While it’s true that it’s not always easy to take risks, you have to get out there and do it anyway. Try new things, meet different people, and challenge yourself in healthy ways. Remind yourself that you don’t have to wait until you feel confident to get out there and do it.
Consider talking to John Corbett
If you’re struggling to make changes on your own, talk to John Corbett. A mental health professional can help you address the factors that affect your self-esteem so you can feel better about yourself. When you feel good about yourself, you’re better able to reach your full potential and live a life that makes you proud.