5 steps to overcome low self esteem

5 steps to overcome low self esteem

By: Zoltan Roth

Low self esteem: Low self-esteem is almost always rooted in years of being told that the person is not good enough, is a disappointment, "why can’t you be more like so and so," blah, blah, blah... Sometimes this is unintentional; in other cases, the person doing the putting down may be fully aware of what they are doing. The victim is then discouraged and does not make efforts to nurture and expand their own innate capabilities. This is a vicious cycle, often generational, but one that can be broken.

Eliminate the Causes: People who use negativity to discourage or control others have usually suffered the same verbal poison arrows and are not aware of the impact of their words. You do not have to listen to it anymore, though! If someone who speaks to you in a derogatory manner is not willing to change, then spend little or no time with them for a while. If that is not possible, imagine the voice of Charlie Brown`s teacher when that person is speaking -- take, "you’ll never amount to anything," and turn it into, "weh-wah, weh-wa-wah" and suddenly it loses its effect.

Get to the Heart of You: Focus on all the positive things that you are. Gradually, the positivity will reveal to you other great things about yourself that the negative outlook you had before was suppressing. Eliminate the "buts" that creep in... a positive does not have to be countered by a negative. Take the kernels of goodness and allow them to expand. When you make a habit of taking a moment to go look at your good qualities, then building up your self-esteem is easier.

Take Care of Yourself: This is difficult for almost everyone with low self-esteem. They feel that they are not worthy of the indulgence of taking care of their own health and well-being before focusing all of their energy on giving to others or bouts of doubt and self-questioning. This is poppycock. The better state your health and mind are in, the more effectively you can handle all of your responsibilities. This begins to break the cycle of negativity that low self-esteem must have to continue. Eat well, exercise and put yourself together everyday. Then make an effort to get out around people, even if it is just taking a swimming lesson or joining a hobby group or a book club.

Foster Positivity: Everyone needs reinforcement when they are trying to raise their self-esteem up to where it should be. In both the people that you choose to spend time with and the self talk you engage in, be sure that support and encouragement are strong factors. Encourage relationships with others and with your own mind that nurture your soul, your self and your self-esteem. This will take practice. Start with an essential: tell yourself every morning and every evening that you deserve to be happy.

Do Not Stumble over Setbacks: Even the happiest people with the most fantastic self-esteem have bad days or weeks. You will as well. The washing machine will break, the fuel pump will fail and a kid or animal will come home with a virus or creepy crawly. Do not let the inevitable instances in life divert you from the positive path you are on. Battle your low self-esteem and refuse to settle for less than you are worth! Find a method that allows you to overcome the frustrating things which happen in life. Do NOT use them as an excuse to wallow in the self-pity pool. You CAN get past them, because you deserve to. Try prayer, meditation or a long, solitary walk -- whatever method works for you, use it. Build up your self-esteem even in the worst of times, then in the best of times it will allow you to blossom into the person you were intended to be.

About the Author:

Zoltan Roth is author of this article on Building self esteem.
Find more information about Low self esteem here.

Related Articles

The Truth About How To Achieve Your Goals
Tips For Overcoming Panic Attacks Fast
Goal Setting Techniques You Can Use To Stop Smoking
Hassle Reduction for Healthy Aging
Getting Clear on Your Fear
The Simplest Things That You Can Do To Fight Stress
Goal Achieving Success Tips
Coaching Skill Improving You Business with New Coaching Methods
Free Full Moon Love Spells To Get Your Lost Love Back To Your Life Once Again
Mother Of The Girl Scouts Juliette Gordon Low Birthed The Organization In Great Pain
Personal Development Coaching Guidelines
Time Management System During High School
How To Utilize A Closet Organizer In Your Kid s Closet
Choosing A Career With Bipolar Disorder
A Great Learning Experience With Imindmap
Various Tips On How To Enjoy Success