Self esteem represents a person’s perception of their internal and external faculties as a whole – an all-inclusive sense of self worth.
How you see yourself: what do you picture when you picture yourself in your mind?
What you believe about yourself and your own appearance: how would you describe yourself?
How you feel about you? Is it good or bad; do you view yourself as a person of worth?
People with healthy self-esteem are able to feel good about themselves, appreciate their own worth, and take pride in their abilities, skills, and accomplishments. People with low self-esteem may feel as if no one will like them or accept them or that they can’t do well in anything.
Low self esteem is a central theme in the development of an eating disorder, and it often manifests as a critical voice which creates and feeds perceptions of poor body image. Low self esteem naturally leads to negative perceptions of one’s physical appearance with many individuals suffering from intense feelings of self-hatred, worthlessness and seeing themselves very negatively.
An important preventative measure in combating low self-esteem is to consciously enhance and rebuild self esteem. While for some, it may seem like an overwhelming task in retraining the mind, but building and improving upon our self esteem is a choice which is available to everybody and is well worth making.
Tips for Improving Self Esteem
Below are some general tips for improving self esteem:
- Ensure you are providing your body and mind with the basic necessities for healthy living. Get enough rest, eat a balanced diet and exercise for the simple joy of the activity.
- Spend more time with people who encourage you, and less time with people who discourage you.
- Take a strong commitment and a conscious effort to succeed in building your own self esteem.
- The next time you make a mistake, be forgiving of yourself.
- Try not to compare yourself to other people.
- Be aware of the negative influence of the media and others around you.
- Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small or large. Recognise the good choices you make and congratulate yourself on your successes.
- Do things you enjoy and know you’re worth it. Make the time to do the things that make you feel relaxed, calm and happy. Whether that is through work, volunteering or hobbies.
- Redefine “selfish”. Learn to love yourself and to take care of your needs effectively. You can get your needs met and still have love in your life.
- As you make new choices, set out goals and strategies for improving the way you think and live.
- Treat yourself with deliberate acts of kindness.
