Many people seek therapy when they believe their personal worth is in jeopardy. You may withdraw from social situations, stop trying new things, and avoid things that are difficult for you. 

Avoiding challenging and difficult situations may make you feel safer in the short term. People who suffer from low self-esteem may make statements like:

“I am constantly convinced that I am at fault.”

“I feel like everyone around me is judging me.”

“I dismiss all of my accomplishments and successes. “I don’t think I deserve them.”

If you identify with any of the statements above, you may be suffering from low self-esteem. Low self-esteem can lead to a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. 

It can make it difficult to pursue our goals and have a negative impact on our relationships. In this blog we will discuss five habits you can cultivate to avoid feeling trapped by low self-esteem.

Develop Self-Compassion.

According to ongoing research, people who have a high level of self-compassion also have a high level of self-esteem. Self-compassion is the act of being kind to oneself. 

When we fail, make mistakes, feel inadequate, or face difficulties in life, we should strive to encourage ourselves rather than be critical of ourselves. Accepting self-doubt, negative self-evaluations, and adversity as part of the human experience is what self-compassion entails. 

People who treat themselves with compassion are better equipped to deal with life’s ups and downs.

Here are a few ways to practice self-compassion in order to boost your self-esteem:

1. Try the “treat a friend as you would a friend” exercise. How would you respond to a friend who is feeling down about himself/herself in a difficult situation? Consider how things might change if you responded to yourself in the same way. True, we are frequently our harshest critics. One way to increase your self-compassion is to treat yourself as you would a close friend.
2. Use reassuring touch. When you feel stressed, take a few deep breaths and gently place both of your hands over your heart, as if hugging yourself.
3. Make time each day for mindfulness practices like meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation. These devotions will assist you in connecting with your higher self.

Surround yourself with people who are supportive and encouraging.

According to research, receiving acceptance and approval from others boosts our self-esteem. For example, one study discovered that providing affirming feedback to teenagers increased their self-acceptance and self-respect.

Concentrate on developing relationships that provide you with the space, support, and encouragement you require to become the best version of yourself. 

Don’t be afraid to re-evaluate your relationships in order to eliminate those who criticize, blame, or shame you. Always be cautious about who you let into your life.

Small victories should be celebrated.

We often chase after accomplishments without pausing to appreciate how far we’ve come. We have big dreams and desires and have a tendency to go to extremes. 

This can leave us feeling overwhelmed and lower our self-esteem because we feel powerless over our situation. Research shows that celebrating small victories boosts morale and resilience while also filling us with a sense of optimism.

As difficult as it is, we must remind ourselves of the importance of breaking large goals down into smaller, manageable tasks and rewarding ourselves for reaching mini-milestones. 

This will allow us to track our progress and motivate us to continue pursuing our long-term objectives. Doing this over and over will build motivation to take on bigger goals and accomplish things you never thought possible.

Positive affirmations should be used to replace your inner critic.

Accept credit for who you are and what you do. Positive affirmations, according to a recent journal article, allow us to see otherwise threatening information as more self-relevant and valuable. 

When your self-esteem begins to dwindle, try replacing negative self-talk with supportive mantras such as:

“Focusing on progress is preferable to focusing on perfection.”

“I am tenacious. I can get through this difficult situation.”

“It’s okay to make mistakes. My errors do not define me. I’ll keep learning and growing.”

Take a break from social media.

According to a study published in the European Scientific Journal, spending an hour on Facebook every day was associated with significant drops in self-esteem. 

Take a break from social media. It will help you break the cycle of comparing yourself to others and give you more time to focus on what truly makes you happy. If you would like help working on your self-esteem, feel free to contact us today or look at the services we provide.