Self-esteem refers to our perception of our own worth or value. Self-esteem is important and can greatly impact our relationships, careers, academics, as well as our overall health and wellbeing. Our self-esteem influences our decision-making process. For example, having low self-esteem may discourage someone from pursuing a career they love because they do not believe they could be successful. If you are struggling with low self-esteem, there are many ways to help build up your worth and sense of self. Here are some ideas:

• Practice positive self-talk. The internal dialogue we have with ourselves matters. If we are beating ourselves up and speaking to ourselves harshly, it’s easy to become discouraged. Practice setting an intention to speak to yourself kindly, as you would to a friend. It may be useful to write down positive affirmations – a quick daily routine of practicing these can add up to big changes over time.

• Challenge negative beliefs. It’s helpful to be mindful of negative and self-critical thought patterns and learn how to challenge them when they come up. It’s possible to be holding onto many negative beliefs about self, for example: “I’m not smart enough” or “no one likes me.” When these types of thoughts come up, ask yourself what evidence you have to support the thought and practice formulating an alternative thought or explanation (for example: “no one likes me” becomes “there are people who do care about me”). 

• Recognize your strengths. We all have unique strengths, talents, interests, and values to be celebrated and built upon. Take some time to reflect on some things that you are passionate about and that you feel confident doing. Acknowledging your strengths can be essential to building up a positive sense of self.

• Cultivate supportive relationships. It’s important to surround yourself with people who will support and uplift you. Focus on building relationships with people who are there to motivate you, cheer you on, and who can see your worth and value. These are the people who want to see you thrive and care about your happiness and wellbeing.

This blog post was written by Taryn O’Neil, LPC. To learn more about building self-esteem, reach out to one of our licensed counselors today.