By Lukman Olarinkoye
You don’t feel that you’re good enough?
If you constantly worried about your look, second guessing your behavior and what others think of you, then are probably struggling with low self-esteem.
Self-esteem is self-worth and self-respect. It is the opinion people have about themselves. In other words, self esteem means how much you like, value, respect and believe yourself.
It’s totally fine to lack confidence in some situations especially the ones outside your comfort zone but the ability to take grip of yourself quickly to regain your confidence is what makes you have normal level of self-esteem.
However, in situations where you find it difficult to gain confidence even in your comfort zone then you might have low self-esteem, which needs to be improved upon.
Low self-esteem can affect so many things in your life, including your career, relationship and family life. Therefore, you can work on low self-esteems through any of the following:
1. Challenge your negative beliefs:
Your negative belief about yourself are usually untrue and may been passed to you by others such as your parents, ex-partners or colleagues. Try telling yourself that you are a good person and you are worthy of love and respect just like everyone else. Don’t be afraid to rewrite the script of your life.
2. Failing doesn’t make you a failure:
It quite normal to fail as it’s part of what build us with experience and wisdom. Forgive yourself for all the mistakes you make and use your knock-backs to develop strength and resilience to keep on trying.
3. Stop comparing yourself to others:
Comparison is the thief of joy, and leads only to insecurity. Accept that everyone is different and remember where your strengths lie. You might not be great at football but you might make a good chef, and that is something worth celebrating.
4. Stop thinking others are better than you are:
It’s okay to admire others’ traits, but not at the expense of your own. There is room for everyone to shine. You just have to look inward to recognize your strength and milk it for your own good.
5.Teach others how to treat you:
People believe what you tell them, so if you project failure and inadequacy, your friends and colleagues might start to agree. Practice projecting yourself as someone whose opinions are just as valid as others, and your sense of self worth will begin to rise.
6. Standup for yourself and be proactive:
If the criticism directed at you is unfair, say you disagree. You don’t have to accept everything everyone says to you as the truth. If there’s some truth in it then you should work on it instead of beating yourself up about it.
7. Face your fears:
Identify your fears are and build the courage to face each of your fears, taking on each fear and boosting your belief in your abilities as you go.