Self-esteem is not a panacea, nor does it magically solve our problems. But it is worth constantly working on it with techniques and boosting our mental resilience.
“Believe in yourself!” “You can achieve anything!” “Everything starts with self-esteem!”. We have read these phrases so many times in self-improvement books, and we have heard them so often from the mouths of life coaches that instead of being convinced in the end, we end up wondering: Is self-esteem overrated? Is it worth emphasizing? When the edifice of my self-esteem has crumbled, can I rebuild it on my own?
Self-esteem does not magically fix all our problems, nor does it guarantee a life without struggles and problems. However, it helps us to build our resilience, to be able to cope with our failures, to overcome them, and to be closer and closer to our success and happiness. It is, therefore, very important, as much as possible, to learn to work on our self-esteem constantly.
7 techniques to boost your self-esteem step by step
It doesn’t need a lot of effort; it just needs a way, and these techniques will help you “bloom”!
1. Don’t seek perfection
Trying to reach for perfection, i.e., the unattainable and unreal, leads you to constant disappointments and dead ends. Acknowledging both your achievements and your mistakes is what will help you learn and continually improve.
2. Have realistic expectations
When you set extremely high expectations, you increase the chances of feeling disappointed or even a failure, even when you are not responsible for not achieving them. It is better and more fruitful to set small and achievable goals within your realistic capabilities.
3. Make peace with yourself
Learning about ourselves and making peace with it is not easy at all. It is a journey that can last a long time, but we need to live it, trying new experiences, making mistakes, and constantly learning new things about ourselves.
4. Don’t compare yourself to others
Especially today, when social media projects the perfect image, comparing yourself to those around you is a big, dangerous trap that you can easily fall into. Remember that the only person you can compare yourself to is your best self.
5. Do a regular digital detox
Do a social media detox. Limit social media usage and mindless scrolling as much as you can, put the phone on silent for a while, and spend more time experiencing the real world around you.
6. Visualize your success
A technique to achieve this is as follows:
- Seclude yourself in a quiet place without distraction from your surroundings.
- Close your eyes for a few minutes, and try to imagine a scenario in which you are the protagonist and have achieved your goals.
- Concentrate, try to use all your senses and emphasize even the smallest detail of this scenario.
7. Include exercise in your daily routine
Get more in touch with your body and improve your physical and mental health. Even if you don’t have enough time to join an exercise program or go to a gym, try doing something simple on a daily basis, like a little walk or run.
Gradually try all or some of the above techniques, and give yourself time and space to get to know yourself better and appreciate your true dimension. If, however, you feel that you can’t or don’t want to boost your self-esteem on your own, it’s best to turn to a mental health professional to help you do it.
