Do you have low self-esteem? Do you find that you hate yourself, your body, or the life you live? Having no self-worth is pretty common worldwide. But it doesn’t have to be. There are ways that you can change your thought patterns so that you can start to love yourself again.
Why Self-Esteem Is So Important
Studies suggest that people with low self-esteem can become very defensive over the qualities that they like about themselves. Because they don’t have many reasons to hold higher self-worth, they feel the need to be protective of the few things that they desire about themselves. This can cause people to act irrationally to protect these qualities at all cost, like if someone feels that the only thing that brings them worth is their appearance, they may start developing an eating disorder.
People with low self-esteem may become depressed and suicidal when they feel as if they have no qualities to hold onto. Feeling like you have little worth can also cause anxiety disorders. Without having healthy self-esteem, you can’t believe in yourself in the ways you should which can hinder your success in relationships as well as with career opportunities. It won't be the easiest task, but improving the way that you view yourself can have positive effects on your entire life.
6 Ways To Enhance Your Self-Esteem
1. Positive Self Talk
How do you talk to yourself? Are you always putting yourself down? Do you talk to yourself in a way that you wouldn’t dare to someone else? You need to stop doing that.
Negative self-talk encourages you to drill into your head how much you don’t matter. And just because these thoughts exist, doesn’t mean they are true. Turning these negative thoughts into positive thoughts can help you recognize when you have them, and it gives you a chance to distance yourself from this negative thinking.
2. Avoid Comparisons
Do you scroll through your Instagram account and compare yourself to everyone and their lives? This isn’t a healthy practice for you when you are constantly telling yourself that you don’t compare. Remember that just because someone seems happy on social media, doesn’t mean they are. Focus on you and your life and let them live theirs.
3. Identify Your Gifts
Everyone has their thing. Are you funny? Do you cook well? Are you always considerate towards people, even strangers? Whether it is a hobby or a personality trait, remember this remarkable thing about you. This one great quality will lead to more, reminding yourself that you do have worth. Because you can cook, you make people happy. You are creative with your recipes and are knowledgeable about the ingredients you use. See? Let your thoughts travel down that road and lavish yourself in compliments.
4. Be Kind To Others
Being nice is just fun, first of all. And being a service to others can help you get out of your negative train of thought that you are stuck in. Volunteering at a homeless shelter, the pound, or with kids can not only help those in need but make you feel good about yourself. If you have people who need your help in your own home, then this task will be even easier to complete.
5. Exercise
Exercising is great for your body and your mind, and to top it all off, it can make you feel good about yourself. Studies have shown that physical exercise improves quality of life. Whether you are just doing a cardio filled walk around the neighborhood or hitting the gym, you will notice how much better you feel when you get yourself moving.
6. Surround Yourself With Love
This isn’t always the easiest thing in the world to do. At your job, you can’t choose co-workers. And you can’t choose your family. But you can choose your friends and who you are around in your free time. If you are continually being told that you aren’t good enough, you’re going to start to doubt yourself and wonder if they are right. Try to bring people into your life who are positive and uplifting so they can remind you of how much you deserve to be loved by others and yourself.
When Mental Illness Gets In The Way
If you are anxious or depressed, building your self-esteem may be more difficult. After all, depression can cause people to think negatively, and anxiety can cause thought ruminations. Both of these symptoms if not treated can cause you to beat yourself up and feel worthless. If you are suffering from depression or anxiety, talk to your doctor about taking CBD oil. In our shop, we have hemp-derived CBD that may be able to help with your depression and anxiety. It won’t cure your poor self-esteem, but it may make the journey to self-love easier to navigate.
Did you use to have poor self-esteem? What are ways that you learned to love yourself? Leave your story in the comment section below!
