Millions of Americans suffer from low self-esteem on a daily basis. And while there’s often a clinical problem at the root of the issue, many people simply need to change their behaviors. By taking small, practical steps, you can give yourself the boost you need.
Got Self-Esteem?
What do you want to accomplish in life? No matter what, self-esteem is at the heart of the issue. Low self-esteem will hold you back and tell you that you’re unworthy or unprepared, while a healthy amount of self-esteem will give you the confidence and encouragement to pursue your dreams.
If you’re lacking in this department, here are some practical things you can do to give your self-esteem a jolt:
1. Care for Your Appearance
Self-esteem is very much an internal matter, but it can be affected by outwardly factors. If you want to be confident in yourself, you need to care for your appearance. One simple thing you can do is pay attention to oral hygiene.
“Keeping up with oral health makes it easier for people to benefit from smiling,” Logan Harper writes for DentalSave. “People who have missing teeth, discolored teeth or crooked teeth often feel too embarrassed to smile. If they don’t smile, then they can’t handle stressful situations as well as their peers. They may also become ostracized from groups because they don’t look confident and trustworthy.”
This might seem like a tiny detail, but small appearance factors like this can play a huge role in your underlying self-confidence.
2. Try New Things
When you do the same things over and over again, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut and lose confidence in yourself. By trying new things – things that scare you or make you uncomfortable – you’ll begin to realize that everything is okay.
When it comes to trying something new, ask yourself one simple question: “What’s the worst that can happen?” Many times, you’ll discover that the worst-case scenario really isn’t that bad.
3. Find Supportive Friends
Whether you realize it or not, your self-esteem is directly impacted by things others say about you. If you spend time with negative people, you’re going to feel bad about yourself. However, the inverse is true as well. By surrounding yourself with kind, supportive people, you’ll feel like you can do anything.
4. Learn to Appreciate Your Skills
People with low self-esteem spend most of their time wallowing in failures and shortcomings. If you want to cultivate high self-esteem, you need to learn to appreciate the talents and skills you have. By focusing on the things you’re good at, you’ll begin to recognize that you have value and worth in this world.
5. Accept the Reality of Mistakes
It doesn’t matter who you are, you’re going to mess up from time to time. The sooner you understand this and accept the reality of mistakes, the more comfortable you’ll feel trying new things and taking risks. Instead of always bracing for the worst, you’ll be able to enjoy the excitement of the moment.
Start Living Your Best Life
Author Chuck Danes believes positive self-esteem is the single most important principle for people to grasp in their lifetime. “A principle that if embraced and consciously applied will enable and empower you to experience the joy, harmony and fulfillment that is readily available to each of us without exception,” he explains.
If
you want to live your best life now, you need to pay attention to your
self-esteem and give your mind and body what it needs to thrive. While it can
take a while to cultivate, you can get started tod