Self-esteem is the view we have of ourselves, not how others view us. It has a great affect on our ability to be happy and also our ability to achieve our true potential in life. Many people suffer from low self-esteem and believe that this is a normal way to live.

Ask yourself – do you like the person you are? Do you think you are good enough? Attractive enough? Do you feel other people have a positive view of you? Do you think that you have achieved enough? If the answer is ‘no’ to any of these then you may have low self-esteem.

Interestingly, many people who suffer from low self-esteem also suffer some level of anxiety and depression. When you have low self-esteem you often doubt yourself and may get anxious about certain things. This leads to feeling low about how much you have achieved in life or who you are. This in turn may cause some level of low mood or depression.

The cycle continues and if you don’t break it then it tends to get worse. As your depression deepens, your self-esteem drops again and so on in a negative cycle. The result is often that you are living a life that is only partially or not at all fulfilling. Many of the clients I see suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

There are ways to increase your self-esteem and it can literally change the way you view both yourself and the world and how happy you are.

How To Boost Your Self-Esteem

Some important factors that can play a role in boosting your self-esteem are:

Eat well

We all know that eating the right foods and not having too much junk food has a direct impact on our body and our weight. What most people don’t pay attention to is the fact that food can directly impact your mood. Eating a diet that is balanced and contains essential ‘feel good’ nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and omega 3 is a very important part of improving mood through natural means. Getting your Vitamin D level checked by your GP and taking a supplement if required can also help.

Exercise

It is a well established fact that exercising regularly can improve your mood. You don’t need to hit the gym but simply go for a walk most days. A great way to help with mood is to have a ‘walk & talk’ buddy. Having someone to chat to while taking a walk helps to motivate you and it becomes an enjoyable activity.

Pamper yourself

When we feel low we tend to ignore our own needs and not care for ourselves. This is particularly true of mums with younger kids or people suffering depression. Making an effort to do nice things for yourself can help elevate your mood. Get a massage, go on a retreat weekend, get a new hairstyle or find another enjoyable way to make you feel good.

Participate in a fun activity

Again a really simple thing to do but often neglected. Have a think about what you would love to do that you have never tried or an activity that used to make you happy. Try a new sport or hobby. Team sports are great as you not only get the fun and exercise but also the benefit of socialising. Make yourself a wishlist and then research to see which ones you are able to try. Try something you have never tried before.

Focus on your internal talk

This is a huge part of correcting low self-esteem and depression. There is often a constant conversation going on in our heads with lots of negative things about ourselves. Sometimes we are completely unaware how many negative thoughts we have about ourselves. By focusing on our self-talk and trying to correct it with statements that are positive and generally more accurate, we can change this inner dialogue and start to feel more positive about ourselves.

Socialise

When we feel down or bad about ourselves we tend to avoid social situations which then makes the problem worse. It may feel like an effort to go out and mix with friends at times, but this can be a big help in changing our mood and therefore impact our self-esteem in a good way.

Avoid people who make you feel bad about yourself

There are many negative people and identifying those people who make you feel good about yourself and those that pull you down is important. Be kind to yourself and try and spend time with the positive people. Happiness can be catching!

These are just some small ways in which you can help yourself. Trying to do as many of them as you can will help to build your self-esteem and get on your way to a happier, healthier life.

If you need some help getting motivated or finding the right direction then counselling can help you to put in place some definite strategies that will help you to overcome your low self-esteem and live a happy life.

Give me a call on 0468 950 420 or book online to see how I can help you to improve your self-esteem.

Good luck and let me know if you found this helpful.