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When analyzing the driving factor behind your decisions, there is one common denominator that many people overlook: self-esteem. Self-esteem is a reflection of your perceived value. If you do not have a positive self-image, your motivation to achieve great things diminishes. Because of this, it is important to work on empowering yourself to better actionize your goals.
People suffering from low self-esteem are
probably wondering “where do I start?” in regards to feeling worthy. The key to
improving self-esteem is to gradually take steps towards repairing a negative
self-image. Over time, these seemingly small steps will become a habit and
create a greater self-worth.
Tips on
Raising Self-Esteem
1.Understand
where you are.
The first step to bettering self-esteem is to
understand your current mentality. It takes courage to realize your negative
thought patterns and honestly evaluate how you truly feel about yourself.
Figure out what triggers your negative self-image so you can begin to change
the narrative.
A great way to gauge your self beliefs is
through journaling. You can write down your innermost thoughts and your entries
will eventually reveal your current thought patterns. Journaling also helps you
see the transition from your old mindset to a more positive outlook overtime.
2.Change
the narrative.
After you’ve determined what causes your
negative thought patterns, the next step is changing the narrative. Because
your perception determines your actions, the story you’ve been telling yourself
has to change to encourage a more positive thought process. A great way to
reprogram your subconscious is through affirmations. Research indicates that
repeatedly writing down positive personality traits even helps regulate
depression.
If you suffer from lower self-esteem,
initially believing affirmations can be challenging. To see realistic changes,
begin with affirmations like “I am going to…” and fill in the blank. For
instance, instead of saying “I am a millionaire”, saying “I am going to be
successful in the near future” better motivates you to follow through with a
goal.
3.Stop
comparing yourself to others.
With millions of people regularly using social
media, it can be easy to get caught up in comparison. Social comparison theory
involves evaluating self-worth based on how one measures up to another. While
this can sometimes be motivation to improve on minor insecurities, many cases
have a negative impact. For instance, comparing yourself to a celebrity or
someone with a large social media following can make you feel inferior and lead
to self-destructive behaviors.
If you decide to use social media, instead of
watching other profiles to bring yourself down, use their positive characteristics
as motivation to improve yourself. Self-reflecting may also reveal that you’re
a starchild, which allows you to embrace your
individuality as a positive trait, especially since social media is used to
promote perfection, not reality.
4.Learn
to accept compliments.
How receptive are you to positive feedback?
Your ability to accept compliments has a direct correlation to your
self-esteem. At times, this can stem from how much reassurance you received as
a child. To overcome negative self-image, you must make a habit of accepting
compliments from people, even if it initially makes you uncomfortable.
Eventually, you will repel less compliments and create a cycle of positive
thought patterns that inspire better decisions worthy of more compliments.
5.Developing
your gifts.
One of the greatest ways to improve your
self-esteem is working on your talents. Most children have special skills,
whether it’s sports, art, singing, or dancing. By working towards achieving
your goals, you can focus on your positive aspects and use small triumphs to
motivate you to accomplish greater goals, which causes even higher self esteem.
No matter where you are in life, it is
important to embrace the positive characteristics you possess. Raising your
self-image is a pivotal step in achieving your goals and dreams. Once you begin
building up your self-esteem, there will be nothing you cannot accomplish.
You've read Overcoming Your Former Self: Small Steps Toward Higher Self-Esteem, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you've enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.