Tips to improve Self-Esteem
by Jelena Duma
February 27, 2011

Your self-esteem depends on many questions:

• How do you see yourself?
• How do you feel about your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you think of your social status?
• Can you make your own decisions?
• Do you believe you are successful?
• How critical are you when you compare yourself to others?
• Do you ignore the unique value that you have?
• How do you relate to others?

Self esteem is your opinion of yourself and it is the cornerstone of your attitude towards living. It affects how you think, act and how you relate to other people. High self esteem allows you to live life to your full potential. It means having a good self image, strong confidence and a willingness to face challenges. It is a way to happiness and wellbeing.

When you doubt yourself it lowers your abilities to cope with a problem. You fear a negative outcome, and it brings forth feelings of insecurity and low self-reliance. It feeds your negative thinking and causes you to believe the criticism others make of you.

Ways to improve your self-esteem and confidence:

• Let go of your past and move on – If your past was hard and traumatic, learn from it and move on. Use all your resources and strength to rise up and connect to the new picture of you.
• Face your fears – Fears are usually exaggerated. Stay mindful of your fears and experience them closely – you’d be surprised how they can fade away.
• View mistakes as learning opportunities – Everyone makes mistakes. Never allow mistakes to block your life; keep on moving and keep on learning until you succeed.
• Talk and Share – Find a trusting person, friend, therapist, or support group and share your feelings and stories. We feel safer when we have a good support system.
• Think about what you're good at and what you enjoy, and go for it
• Develop your intuition - The more you get in touch with yourself and your intuitive abilities, the more you become trusting, confident and in power to make good decisions.
• Exercise! When we exercise, we feel happier and healthier and have a better sense of well being.
• Reward yourself when you succeed – Take time to build a good relationship with yourself. Go to the spa, dinner, walk, treat and pamper yourself regularly
• Try new things - Experiment with different activities that will help you get in touch with your talents.
• Stay grateful for what you have and make a contribution – Feeling like you're making a difference can do wonders to improve your self-image.