How To Hit Refresh On Your Self-Esteem

Life isn’t always straightforward. We encounter problems and challenges along the way, and sometimes our confidence and our self-esteem ends up taking a hit. Coming back from this can be hard, and sometimes we get into a cycle of negativity which drags us down. If you find yourself in this situation, what can you do to begin to rebuild your self-image and grow confidence in who you are and what you have to offer the world?

Repair Your Self Esteem

Our sense of self-esteem is hugely important, because it impacts so many different areas of our lives. From your personal relationships, to your career, and your mental and physical health – everything is a mirror of how you feel about yourself, so if those feelings are negative, it can quickly have a fundamental impact on your quality of life. There are two main sources that we draw upon to shape our sense of self – one is how people treat us – and how we deal with that – and the other is how we see ourselves. We do have control over increasing our self-esteem and a number of small but solid changes can be easily made to challenge negative thoughts and build yourself back up.

Change Your Internal Dialogue

The way we talk to ourselves has a powerful effect on how we feel and how we handle situations in our lives. A lot of people are intensely self-critical, blaming and finding fault with themselves and their actions in a way that they would never treat others. And the most insidious part of it is that it all takes place almost subconsciously. The first step is to become aware of how you are framing thoughts. Recognize and challenge any negativity by repeating more positive dialogue to yourself. Think about how you would speak to a friend in the same situation l, and use those words for yourself. Focusing on the positive aspects in life is a learned skill – the more you’re doing it, the easier it gets, until it’s just a part of who you are. Ask yourself what the facts are of a given situation and whether you’re catastrophizing unnecessarily. Forgive yourself for making mistakes and give yourself credit for your accomplishments.

Express Yourself

Everybody is different, but this is a great strength. Only you can bring your unique talents, skills and personality to a situation, which means that you always have something to offer. When we don’t feel able to express ourselves, it can leave us feeling stifled and as if we don’t fit in, so make it a habit to learn how to express yourself respectfully to others. This can take many forms. From learning how to politely challenge situations and people you’re uncomfortable with, to standing up for your own interests in a challenging scenario. We express ourselves through what we say and what we do. It can even be as simple as expressing yourself with your appearance – so if you want to dye your hair or learn about the different types of tongue piercings, or even enhance your appearance in other ways, it can be a positive thing. Although you shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that changing how you look will immediately alter how you feel, if you are being true to yourself and only changing things that you want to, it can make you feel more in control of your own destiny.

Learning to accept yourself with your flaws and unique features is the key to walk into a room more confidently, surround yourself with encouraging people, and achieve your goals. However, if there is an aspect of yourself you really don’t like and you feel that it is impacting your interactions and abilities, you should do what you can to change it. For example, you might change your hairstyle, strengthen your muscles at the gym or finally invest in Cosmetic Dentistry. Luckily, you have all the means to build an image that reflects your personality and that allows you to be proud of yourself – start working towards it today!