8 Ways to Overcome Low Self-esteem
Low self-esteem is a negative presence in your life that can follow you wherever you go. If you struggle with low self-esteem, you may find that all of your successes are clouded with self-doubt. You might constantly compare yourself to others and fixate on every mistake you’ve ever made. When your sense of self-worth is so low, engaging with life and developing meaningful relationships can feel impossible.
Overcoming low self-esteem is vital for your overall mental health. Unfortunately, many people with low self-esteem look down on themselves so much that they don’t believe they’re worthy of confidence. The first step toward boosting your self-esteem is recognizing that you deserve to love yourself regardless of your perceived flaws. Once you allow yourself to challenge your low self-esteem, you can actively work toward better mental health.
Here Are Eight Strategies for How to Overcome Low Self-esteem
1. Make Improvements Where You Can
Your low self-esteem is not a product of you being a bad, inadequate, or undeserving person. Everyone can suffer from low self-esteem, and the flaws you see in yourself are probably greatly magnified in your own mind. While you can’t cure low self-esteem with self-improvement, making positive changes to your life can boost your confidence.
Think about the sources of your low self-esteem and whether you have the power to change them. For example, if you lack confidence in your appearance, styling your hair or investing in flattering clothing that you love could make you feel better. If you have low self-esteem because you feel awkward in social situations, you could practice your conversational skills. Self-improvement is an excellent confidence builder and can be a key step toward overcoming low self-esteem.
2. Learn New Skills
Learning a new skill, finding a new hobby, or enjoying a new life experience are all great ways to challenge your low self-esteem. When your life is full of interesting and enriching experiences, you leave less room for self-doubt or self-criticism. Developing a new skill provides a sense of accomplishment and reminds you that you are capable of growth and improvement.
3. Write a List of Your Positive Qualities
When you have low self-esteem, identifying your negative characteristics is probably much easier than identifying your positive ones. Your positive qualities outweigh your negative ones, though.
Overcoming low self-esteem means recognizing your worth and understanding the value you offer the world. Write a list of every single thing you like about yourself, and read through this list regularly. Even if you think a quality is silly or insignificant, add it to the list. Having this written reminder of your strengths can be very helpful during moments when your low self-esteem starts to take over your thoughts.
4. Be Kind to Others
Helping others is a powerful way to improve your self-esteem. When you actively make someone’s day better, you feel a sense of confidence and pride that’s difficult to match. Additionally, this is a great opportunity for you to strengthen your relationships and build new friendships with the people around you.
Even small acts of kindness can go a long way for yourself and for the person you’re helping. A compliment, a word of advice, or a listening ear can mean the world to someone in need. As you incorporate acts of kindness into your daily life, they will become habitual.
5. Don’t Criticize Yourself Out Loud
Low self-esteem starts in your mind, but for many people, it manifests in their words and actions. To challenge your low self-esteem, you have to stop giving your negative beliefs power. One of the best ways to do this is to avoid voicing your negative opinions about yourself out loud. You might continue to experience the critical thoughts, but by not talking poorly about yourself, you’re taking the first steps toward breaking free from the negative thinking cycle.
Not criticizing yourself out loud also makes you a much more positive and lively person. People are drawn to positivity, so choosing uplifting and constructive words is a great way to strengthen your bond with friends or family.
6. See Yourself From the Perspective of Another
We are always our own worst critics. You may see every little flaw in yourself, but you don’t see these flaws in the people around you. Think about your best friend or your closest family member. You probably don’t hyper-focus on all of their flaws, and you might not see many flaws in them at all. We don’t judge others as harshly as we judge ourselves.
Now, try to view yourself the way that you’d view a close friend or relative. When you look at yourself from the perspective of another, your perceived flaws might not seem so obvious. If you’re concerned about what others think of you, remember that you view yourself from a very unique perspective and that the people in your life aren’t trying to point out all of your weaknesses.
7. Seek Out Positive Friendships
The people you surround yourself with can make a major impact on how you view yourself. Sometimes, friendships with people who are highly judgmental can fuel low self-esteem. If you want to feel better about yourself, you must seek out friendships with people who lift you up. By connecting with people who have a good outlook on life, you make an active choice to embrace positivity.
8. Talk to a Therapist
Sometimes, low self-esteem can become so toxic that it severely interferes with your quality of life. If your negative thoughts are taking over your mind and preventing you from enjoying your life, it might be time to speak with a counselor. Therapy can help you explore the cause of your low self-esteem and challenge your negative thoughts until they no longer have power over you.
Menachem Psychotherapy Group offers counseling for low self-esteem and other emotional health concerns. We understand how important self-esteem is for your overall mental health, and we are here to help as you work toward your goals. You can contact us today to connect with a therapist in Los Angeles.
