Improving self-esteem is a goal that we could all adopt as our own: as we grow, build our identity, and strengthen our self-image, this process of self-care and personal growth becomes critical to connecting in a healthier way with the world around us and for ourselves.
Self-esteem is intimately associated with self-concept. The concept of me refers to people’s beliefs about themselves. Self-esteem would be the emotional echo of the concept of me: how we feel about this image that we have of ourselves. Thus, self-concept and self-esteem are related concepts that are fed back.
- What happens when self-esteem and self-concept are so low that they have a negative impact on our lives?Specifically.
- How can we improve self-esteem? Here are some ways to improve it if it’s deteriorated.
The way you take care of yourself is the cause and consequence of your self-esteem, we can do it with others: taking good care of others we can make them feel better, well, we also follow this maxim, although sometimes forget it.
As a result, you can begin to improve your self-esteem by making more realistic judgments about your accomplishments or the real responsibility for some un cultivated mistakes or goals.
It is also important to consider the following questions: What do you want ?, What do you need?How can you pass the time?
Another tip on how to improve your self-esteem is to build on your strengths. Remember that we all have basic concepts or spikes in skills in our profile with which we can greatly improve our performance.
Achievements can give clues about these strengths. Ask yourself: What are my strengths?What are my strengths and successes?Look for honest answers; otherwise, they won’t help you.
How you communicate with yourself is a key factor in improving self-esteem, if your internal dialogue is based on constant negative criticism, self-censiveness or punishment, self-esteem will be one of the first to pay the bill.
Think: if you’re criticizing someone with phrases like?You can’t do that?,? You’re useless,?” Aren’t you worth anything?”How will this person feel? The same is true if we say these words to ourselves. That’s how we become our worst enemies.
In a way, this internal dialogue is irrational, interpreting any situation in the worst possible way, even when the evidence behind the conclusion is very weak. In the face of these negative thoughts, it is important to:
One way to start making changes to internal communication could be through questions like: What would you say to a friend?Use these responses to maintain a more positive internal language.
In some situations, we all find it difficult to accept parts of ourselves, how we feel, and how we are.
It is a resistance that can damage self-esteem: by not forgiving us and by not accepting us, we can sponsor our own psychological torturer: guilt, which always places us at a lower level.
In this sense, Kristin Neff, in her self-esteem study at the University of Texas, says that if you’re able to treat yourself more kindly and self-pity, you can boost your self-esteem in a healthier way.
So if you want to know how to improve your self-esteem, you have to forgive and accept that you’re human and that you’re making mistakes, and you don’t have to blame yourself.
Try to treat yourself with the same care and respect that you would treat someone you love, supporting and understanding you, rather than constantly criticizing and judging you. Stop punishing yourself every time you make a mistake.
In conclusion, an obstacle to improving self-esteem is setting high and difficult-to-reach goals, those that can only lead to frustration, and of course maintain a negative self-image.
That’s why it’s important to combine different objectives in your planning: challenges that help you grow, but also small goals with which you can guarantee reinforcement if you’re stuck on one of your biggest goals.