What exactly is self-esteem? It’s a word you’ve heard before, and for good reason – it’s the foundation of our mental and emotional well-being. Self-esteem is how we perceive and value ourselves, influencing our confidence, relationships, and resilience as individuals. High self-esteem empowers us to take on new challenges, to embrace new opportunities, and to maintain healthier relationships; meanwhile, low self-esteem can cause feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, and lack of motivation. In this blog, we’re going to discuss the value of reflecting on where your self esteem is, and things you can do to improve it.
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Why is Self-Esteem Important?
At its core, self-esteem influences how you interact with the world — through decision-making, relationships, and even work performance. A healthy level of self-esteem will make you more secure in yourself as an individual. As a result, you’ll become more resilient to setbacks — you’ll become more accepting of criticism and more capable of bouncing back from these setbacks, emerging stronger than before. Self-esteem also allows us to view our own worth intrinsically, rather than tying it to other people’s opinions and validations. In general, a healthy self-esteem equips us to take on life’s challenges through the lens of positivity and perseverance.
On the other hand, low self-esteem can create a cycle of negativity. Low-self esteem can make us feel insecure and inadequate; these feelings can then lead to a fear of failure and judgment, causing us to avoid taking risks and miss out on opportunities. This can cause negative self-talk that reinforces preexisting feelings of inadequacy, causing a downward mental spiral which can lead to issues like anxiety and depression.
How to Improve Self-Esteem
The truth is that low self-esteem is a daily issue that many people seem to still ignore despite its importance. In fact, approximately 85% of Americans deal with low-self esteem according to a survey done by the American Bar Association in 2022 and other mental health organizations. Fortunately, healthy self-esteem can be cultivated and nurtured with intentional efforts. Here are some practical ways you can improve your self-esteem:
- Challenge Negative Self-Talk – Pay attention when you notice yourself thinking critically about yourself and work on reframing those thoughts into more positive or neutral ones. Start by gradually recognizing and addressing self-deprecating thoughts as they arise.
- Celebrate Small Wins – Focus on progress rather than perfection. Take pride in your small accomplishments, no matter how trivial they may seem. You’ll begin to feel more worthy of success and self-appreciation.
- Surround Yourself with Positivity – Cutting off draining, toxic relationships and replacing them with more positive and uplifting relationships will help reinforce your self-worth.
Building self-esteem is a journey of small gradual improvements, not just a destination . By adopting these practices and being patient with yourself, you can create a stronger foundation for personal growth, resilience, and happiness. Remember, you are worthy of love and respect—starting with your own. If you need a positive environment where you can nurture your self-esteem, feel free to contact us here at Relucent Psychology Group. If you feel low self esteem is a symptom of depression, please visit our depression therapy page to learn more about how we can support you.
