Think about the most impressive people in your life. They most likely all have one thing in common: the appearance of plenty of self-esteem. A little confidence goes a long way. And you can learn how to get that confidence yourself. We’ve gathered up some tips and tricks to help you build self-esteem.
Lean into what you love.
What makes you happy? Is it whipping up a meal in the kitchen, spotting birds on your walks about town, flying through a good book, or relaxing quietly? It’s time to get serious about building the skills that help you do what you love and — guess what! — you probably already like that thing because you have some natural gifting toward it.
Love peace and quiet? Explore meditation? Love to cook? Sign up for a gourmet cooking class. Love getting your energy out with physical activity? Check out the new kickboxing gym up the street.
You get the idea. Look for ways to build skills while you do what you enjoy. Knowing that you’re competent in your areas of interest helps you feel more capable in every area of your life which, in turn, helps you build self-esteem.
Get moving.
Exercise is linked to better mental health and self-image. And before the thought of lacing up your shoes for a run fills you with dread, know that exercise doesn’t have to mean laps around the track.
Try yoga. Rent a stand-up paddleboard. Do some rock climbing. Find a way to get your heart rate up that you actually enjoy, and you’ll build your physical and mental health while helping yourself feel more comfortable and confident in your skin.
Watch your words.
How do you talk to your friends and loved ones? Do you call them stupid or incapable or ugly on a regular basis? Of course not! You love and support them and you know that words have power.
Now, think about how you talk to yourself. If you said the things you say to yourself to another person, would it hurt their feelings? If so, it’s time to check that negative self-talk. Just being aware of the thoughts you have about yourself is the first step to changing them.
Then, when you notice yourself saying something negative in your head, stop and swap it with something positive about yourself. Instead of saying, “That was a stupid thing to say,” think, “It’s cool how I’m trying to engage with the person in front of me by contributing to the conversation.” Instead of thinking, “I can’t do that,” think, “I have an exciting opportunity to try something new!” Learning to reprogram the way you think takes time but it’s a powerful tool in putting a stop to self-doubt and building self-confidence.
Fail.
No, really. Try it. Try something new and give yourself permission to fail miserably at it. Failure can be terrible for your self-confidence — but only if you let it. Getting comfortable with failing can go a long way towards helping you not beat yourself up when something goes wrong. And, in a lot of cases, failure is the first step to success. Don’t believe us? Check out these famous failures who are now taking the world by storm.
Want help building your self-esteem? Our dedicated team is here! With talk therapy, yoga, art therapy, alternative healing, and group sessions, we have a bunch of resources designed to help you feel comfortable and confident in your skin. Get in touch with us today to get started!
