9 Ways You Can Boost Your Self-Esteem
No one can return to “the scene of the crime” and retract the words, repair bruised feelings, and diminish the pain that resulted from an exchange that was five, ten years ago. Perhaps you were a school child the first time it occurred to you that you’d never be as “good” as someone else. Sometimes feelings of low self-esteem are a culmination of several events that led to those negative feelings of self-worth.
Symptoms of Low Self-Esteem
Frequent fear and anxiety are experienced by people who suffer from low self-esteem. There’s really nothing – absolutely nothing – that feels good about low self-esteem. Other symptoms include:
• These people experience panic attacks when they think they’ve made a bad decision that others will notice. They think needing help is an admission of inadequacy.
• Depression, feelings of devastation – These people are so afraid of making a bad decision they isolate themselves and refrain from new activities. They often remain in a destructive relationship for fear of being alone.
• Hopelessness about the future – They feel there are so many things they can’t do well, especially social skills and relationships that they refuse to try new things.
• Hypersensitivity – They feel that others are laughing at them, criticizing them or will take advantage of them.
• Lack of assertiveness – They are too afraid of upsetting others (and then being rejected) to tell the truth, ask for what their want, or share their feelings.
• Passivity leading to aggression – The need to tell the truth and assert their feelings builds to a point where they become aggressive-defensive, sarcastic, rude, or even violent.
• Obsessive-compulsive, workaholic, perfectionism, over-spending, alcohol, drugs and sex are the feel-goods people with low self-esteem may use. They will stay in a dead-end job rather than venture outside their comfort zone to seek other employment. “People who lack self-confidence are very needy,” says Marilyn Sorensen, Ph.D. “These are self-defeating behaviors that low self-esteem sufferers repeat over and over.”
Boost Your Self-Esteem
1 Stop yourself every time you begin self-bashing! “I’m such an idiot; I just missed that turn!”
2 Stop comparing yourself to others: “If I had her legs, I could wear shorts, too . . .”
3 Start exercising. The scientific feel-good benefits of exercise are undisputed!
4 Start striving for progress, not perfection!
5 Stop re-hashing and beating to death every mistake you ever made. You made a mistake. It’s over. Move on.
6 Start focusing on the positive changes you can make that don’t depend on anyone else for approval or support!
7 Start doing something you enjoy every day!