How to Boost Your Self Esteem
Louise Hay said, “loving ourselves works miracles in our lives,” and it is true in many ways! People who maintain a favorable view of themselves experience better mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Which, in turn, has a positive impact on their physical wellbeing, relationships, academic and career success. So the question is how to boost your self-esteem so you can see these positive changes.
Many people don’t know this, but it is perfectly normal for self-esteem to fluctuate. Anxiety, pain, life challenges, relationship changes can all affect our self-esteem. This is why it is so important to ensure your self-perception remains within a positive, healthy range across time and circumstances. The following tips and tools are tried and true techniques to boost and sustain your self-esteem. Practice makes perfect; you will be watching magic and miracles unfold in no time!
Words Have Power – The first step in building self-esteem is to shut down the negative self-talk that diminishes it. Observation is the first step. The better you identify critical thoughts, the easier it is to challenge them. Check out our blog on challenging negative self-talk for more on the subject.
Out with the Bad, In with the Good – Our minds are always busy. The average person has more than 6000 thoughts a day! This is fertile soil for weeds of self-doubt to sprout. This is why we must retrain our minds to focus on the positive. Affirmations are an incredibly uplifting and straightforward way to reframe our thought patterns, boosting our confidence at the moment while also fostering a sense of worthiness over the long term. Check out our blog for healing affirmations that you may find helpful.
Nature Repairs Everything – Herbal essences like floral remedies, essential oils, and teas can promote self-worth, self-acceptance, and self-confidence. You can combine them with other practices for self-esteem. For example, pairing a cup of peppermint tea with your morning affirmations or adding lavender oil to your self-care routine.
Pocket Full of Sunshine – Healing crystals like citrine, golden healer quartz, and tigers’ eye can boost optimism and confidence. Carry them in your pocket as a gentle reminder to love yourself throughout the day.
Comparison Is the Thief of Joy – The best way to start celebrating yourself is to stop comparing yourself to others. Like healing gemstones, your uniqueness is part of your beauty. Someone else’s sparkle doesn’t overshadow your own.
Trust Your Ability – To build your self-esteem, you need to honor your current aptitudes and expand them. Find a healthy balance between highlighting your gifts with activities you are good at and seeking new challenges that feature your adaptability, courage, and ability to learn new things.
Do Well by Doing Good – Whether you pay it forward at the coffee shop, volunteer at a community organization, or do something thoughtful for a friend, doing good makes us feel good. It is a beautiful reminder of the joy you bring to the world.
Clutter, the Enemy of Clarity – When our spaces are cluttered, the energy becomes stagnant, affecting our mood and impacting our self-esteem. Tackling a few jobs around the house can help boost your sense of efficacy, empowerment, and accomplishment, raise the vibration, and uplift your outlook. Consider donating items you no longer need for extra feel-good vibes.
Confidence Is the Bond of Friendship – No matter how small, a supportive network of friends and family can be an excellent boost to your self-esteem. Spending time with those who know you best and love you most can help you feel appreciated. Strive to channel their love into your inner sense of self-worth, so you feel worthy whether they are near or far.
Go Offline – Social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, find new recipes, and watch cute funny clips. However, it is essential to regularly disconnect from the photoshopped, picture-perfect representations that can sometimes make us question our own success and attractiveness. Log off and focus on the beauty of your life, soul, and smile.
Be the Change You Want to See – There is a psychology model called the Cognitive Triangle. In simple terms, it proposes that our behavior, emotions, and thoughts influence each other. Suggesting, if we behave in a way that shows we are worthwhile, we will start to feel and view ourselves with greater self-worth. There are many ways you can show yourself you care, fresh sheets, aromatherapy, a soothing bath, some “me” time in the park, whatever brings a smile to your face.
Treat Yourself –While self-care should be a regular part of your routine, you should go all out and spoil yourself every now and then. Much like self-care, this looks different for everyone and may change from one day to the next. You might treat yourself with a bit of shopping, a sweet indulgence, spa treatments, whatever makes you feel extra special! This should be a guilt-free practice; you deserve the love, happiness, and support you so freely give to others!