7 Tips for a Healthy Self-Esteem and a Happier Life

When you have low self-esteem, you are short changing yourself and your ability to strive to be the best that you can be. Having a healthy self-esteem is necessary for living a life full of happiness and confidence. What you think about yourself, both good and bad, has implications on your self-esteem. While it’s not uncommon to have negative thoughts and experience bad feelings about yourself every so often, it’s important to recognize when this is happening. Your thoughts give rise to your feelings, so if you are thinking “I am such an idiot”, you are going to feel bad about yourself. Fortunately, with a few small changes, you can be on your way to developing a healthy self-esteem. Follow these tips to get you there: 1.) Steer clear of negative people. Stay away from people that insult others and put you down. When you are vulnerable it may be easy to believe what they are saying even though they are wrong, but it can still hurt and tear down your self-esteem. * Sometimes people will give you advice thinking they are helping you, even though it’s not sensible information. Always remember that you know yourself best and don’t let anyone send you in the wrong direction of your dreams. 2.) Say “thank you” when given a compliment. This may seem obvious, but how often does someone pay you a compliment and you are quick to brush it off or think that they are lying to you? Believe that most people are kind and sincere and wouldn’t waste their time saying something nice about you if it weren’t true. * Make it a point to pay attention to what you get complimented on, this will also serve to improve your self-confidence. 3.) Seek outside help. There is no reason to be ashamed for trying to better yourself and live the best life that you can. It is a courageous journey to take. There is plenty of help available for developing a healthy self-esteem from hiring a life coach, to getting self-help books, to a qualified therapist. * There are online resources available for improving self-esteem including workbooks, guides, and even online classes. 4.) Learn how to use affirmations. Positive affirmations can be a powerful tool to aid in giving your self-esteem a boost. These are statements phrased in the present tense, positive form that you repeat to yourself often. * Affirmations can be used for any area of your life that you are seeking to change or improve. When written in your own words, using language you would use, they provide impressive results. 5.) Stop comparing. Everyone is different, and you were born with your own unique set of talents, abilities, and looks. And with those come both strengths and weaknesses. Work to develop your strengths and continuously remind yourself what you do well, rather than what you don’t do so well. 6.) Set goals. Setting goals and having the motivation to achieve them also contributes to a healthy self-esteem. Take the time to figure out what you want in the short term and long term. Then determine the steps you will need to get there. * Having a plan of action provides you with a sense of control over your life and a sense of accomplishment. 7.) Take setbacks in stride. There are always going to be things that don’t go your way or work out the way that you planned them. It’s how you react to these times that can make or break your self-esteem. Part of developing a healthy self-esteem is about changing the way you see and think about yourself, setting and achieving goals to provide a sense of accomplishment, and seeking solutions to challenges you are faced with. Integrating these tips into your life will bring you the positive changes you seek and allow you live a happier more fulfilled life.