How to Improve Self-Esteem

Nearly everyone has some degree of self-esteem issues, but for some people, it effects a great portion of their daily lives. This article will give suggestions on how you can improve your self-esteem with easy to follow steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Pen
• Paper
• Desire to Improve
• Self Awareness

1. The first step in treating your self-esteem issues is to determine where your issues lie. There may be a number of different reasons for why you think so little of yourself, but we are going to work on correcting your behavior and not dwelling on what got you to this point in the first place.
2. I would like you to make a list of the things that concern you the most about your personality, behavior, appearance, etc. Write down each of the things that plague your mind on a daily basis.
3. Now I would like you to review that list. But a check mark next to each item that you have the ability to improve upon. If you put down that you are shy and also that you are too short, put a mark next to shy but not next to short.
4. Once you have gone through the list it is time to do something about the things you can change and to stop allowing yourself to dwell on issues that you have no control over.
5. Next, I would like you to separate the physical things that you would like to correct from the behavioral things that you would like to change.
6. Now, make a list of persons that you know who possess the qualities that you desire. Think of people that you admire. What is it about them that attracts you. Is it their confidence? Is it their ability to say what they feel? Is it the way they present themselves?
7. Once you have made and reviewed your lists it is time to put your plan into action. Do not overwhelm yourself, but choose one item from each of your lists to focus on per day. If you have down that you are overweight on your physical list and that you would like to be more outgoing on your behavior list, then choose those two items to begin working on that day.
8. I struggled with self-esteem issues and terrible anxiety my entire life. I used to struggle with figuring out why I was the way I was instead of focusing on fixing the things I had control over. I would worry and fret endlessly. If I wasn’t worrying I wondered why I wasn’t anxious and it would send me right into a tizzy. I came to the conclusion that I was spending way too much energy worrying about things that I either had no control over or could not address at the time. Because of the energy spent being anxious I often neglected my own appearance, health, behavior, and overall well being. I thought very little of myself and therefore allowed others to treat me less than I deserved to be treated.
9. The biggest and most simplest idea to grasp is that people will only treat you as well as you believe you deserve to be treated. When you stop trying to please other people and work on pleasing yourself, you will gain respect, dignity, and self-confidence. This is a guarantee.
10. So, take your two items for the day and decide how you will approach them. Do not make it more difficult than it has to be. Don’t over analyze them. Just change a few habits that you have in order to improve the items you have chosen. If you don’t like your hair, go to a salon and get it done. Make sure that you have an idea in mind and even bring a picture with you to show the stylist. When your hair is done, ask the stylist how you can maintain it and what products you might need to do so.
11. If you have weight issues, choose a couple of things you can do to improve on that. Decide that you will cut out soda from your diet. Vow to yourself that you will walk or jog at least thirty minutes a day. Ride your bike to work or school. The key is to not overwhelm yourself. By taking gradual steps towards your goals you can realistically achieve them and increase the chances that you will form new and healthy habits.
12. As far as personality and behavioral changes, focus on the people from your list that you admire. Study their behavior and what traits you would like to possess. Then, work on emulating those qualities. Stay true to yourself but improve upon what you have and take the qualities that you admire about yourself and make them shine. If you have a good singing voice, then go out and sing koaroake. This will boost your confidence. Even though it might be scary at first, once you hear people applaud, there is not a sweeter sound in the world at that moment and all of your anxiety will fade away.
13. By having several, small, easily achievable goals, you increase your chances of success and gradually build your self-esteem.
14. All of the changes you are looking for won’t happen overnight, but if you steadily work on the items you desire to improve upon, your confidence will lift, your health will improve, your anxiety will fade and the entire world will open up at your feet.