Self-Esteem

"Quiet that voice of doubt inside of you. You are good enough. You do deserve good things. You are smart enough. You are worthy of love and respect. You are amazing just the way you are." - Lorri Faye 

Self-esteem is the thoughts and impressions we hold about ourselves. And, what we think about ourselves affects who we are and influences everything we do. It can influence our attitude, self-motivation, mental well-being, and our overall quality of life.

When our self-esteem level is strong, we have higher self-confidence and stronger feelings of security, belonging, and competence.

Self-esteem is important because it can impact our decisions, our relationships, our physical and emotional health, and our overall well-being.

Individuals who display healthy levels of self-esteem have a firm understanding of their skills and abilities and have realistic expectations of themselves. They understand their personal needs and can express them to others. They can maintain a healthy relationship with others because they also have a healthy relationship with themselves.

However, it is possible to have self-esteem that is either too high or too low, both of which can be problematic.

Individuals who show low levels of self-esteem often are less secure about their skills and abilities. They may second-guess themselves and doubt their overall decision-making process. This doubt can lead them to have low self-confidence and lack of motivation to try new things fearing they are incapable of reaching their goals. Relationships may struggle because of their reluctance to express their needs.

On the other end of the spectrum, some individuals may have excessive levels of self-esteem. Typically these individuals overestimate their skills and abilities. They always think and feel they are right in all situations. They may feel like they are entitled to succeed even without the capabilities to back it up or without having to put in the work. And, because they see themselves as being perfect, they don't see the need for continuous self-improvement.

The thing is, no matter where you are on the scale, we can continually improve our level of self-esteem. The question to ask yourself is, "How would my life change if my self-esteem was improved?"

Some things you can do to improve your self-esteem are:

• Be mindful of your thoughts, especially any negative thoughts that may be impacting your self-worth.
• Challenge yourself to combat any negative thinking patterns. Learn your triggers and steer yourself towards a positive response.
• Try using positive self-talk and affirmations.
• Make it a habit to practice self-compassion, self-forgiveness, and self-acceptance.

Remember, the most important opinion is your own opinion about yourself.

Take a moment today (maybe 10-15 minutes) to write a list of some things that you admire about yourself. Include any past victories, successes, or accomplishments you've had. The more you can list, the better. And revisit and add to this list whenever you feel you need an emotional boost!

Make today great!

Curtis

"The loudest and most influential voice you hear is your own inner voice, your self-critic. It can work for you or against you depending on the messages you allow." - Keith Harrell