Self-esteem is the belief that we have of ourselves. It’s the way we view and perceive ourselves that can often feel very difficult to alter.
We all have moments where we lack confidence and don’t feel confident about ourselves. However when low self-esteem becomes a long-term issue, it can have a negative impact on our mental health and our everyday lives.
what causes a low self-esteem?
Poor self-esteem mostly starts in childhood. We could receive numerous positive and negative signals about ourselves that influence our character. For whatever reason, the message that we’re not good enough is the one that sticks with us the most.
Personality may play a role, too. Certain people are more inclined to pessimistic thoughts, but others build unfathomably high expectations for themselves.
Stressful or traumatic life events may also be a cause, for example:
- Being bullied or harassed
- Experience racism, discrimination or stigma
- Difficulty living up to other people’s expectations, including your own.
- Losing your work or facing unemployment
- Troubles at work or while studying
- Continued Tension
- Physical or mental health issues
- Relationship conflicts, breakup or divorce
- Concern for your appearance and body image
- Money or property issues.
How does it affect our mental health:
If you have poor self-esteem or faith, you might be running away from social interactions, not doing new stuff, and avoiding activities that you find difficult. It can help you feel secure in the near term, but it may backfire as it confirms your deeper suspicions and fears.
Living with poor self-esteem can affect your mental health which can contribute to things like depression and anxiety. You can also acquire unpleasant habits, including drinking or smoking a lot as a way of coping.
How do we lift up our self-esteem?
To raise your self-esteem, you ought to acknowledge the negative opinions you have of yourself, and then question them.
- Take a look at what you’re good at:
Everybody is good at something, we just tend to forget about it and tend to concentrate instead on our shortcomings. Try writing down your accomplishments or the things you like about yourself. Celebrate your victories, no matter how insignificant they are, and embrace the compliments of others.
By giving constructive reminders of our successes and talents, we can sometimes impress ourselves with exactly how much we’ve accomplished.
- Build a positive network of relationships
If you spot that some people usually bring you down, plan on spending less time with them, or simply tell them how you think about their attitudes.
Try to develop a connection with people that are supportive and who respect you. Once you start doing this, you’re looking to discover that their enthusiasm is catching up.
- Be kind to yourself
To be kind to yourself means to be compassionate at moments when you feel like being self-critical. Better think about what would you say to a friend in similar circumstances. Usually we offer better advice to others than we do to ourselves.
- Give Yourself A Style Makeover
You could be the type of people who believes outfits don’t matter, and the person who wears them is more significant. If you are, then you’d be shocked how often what you’re wearing could influence the way you feel and act.
Get yourself a new wardrobe of clothes, change your hairstyle, and smile often. This will make you feel more confident.
- Challenge Yourself
Developing your self-confidence will also be a matter of getting out of your comfort zone and seeking out something different and exciting. This will offer you a new direction in your life, as well as potentially moving you past what you thought was your limits.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/raising-low-self-esteem/
Photo de Andrea Piacquadio provenant de Pexels
