Building Self Esteem (2023)

Building self-esteem is the first step towards your happiness and a better life. If you have low confidence or low self-esteem you will find it impossible to be the person you could be and your happiness will be limited.

I have been on the journey from low self esteem and depression to a healthy level of self esteem and more confidence. I have spent years writing about this topic and working with many life coaching clients. This page is written from experience and will help you transform your life.

Building self-esteem can be achieved by learning how to respect and value yourself, your abilities, and your past achievements. It involves changing to a positive mindset, knowing and loving yourself more, stopping self-criticism, and building self-confidence.

Improving your level of self esteem is important because low self esteem causes depression, unhappiness, insecurity and low confidence. So, if you suffer from any of these, or if you need more confidence, you should really benefit from what I’m going to tell you here.

The Benefits of Positive Self Esteem

Self esteem increases your confidence (Mayoclinic.org, Coudevylle et al 2011).

Furthermore, if you have a healthy level of self esteem you can respect yourself and others, improve your relationships and become happier and more satisfied with your life.

Building self esteem is not a selfish goal because you will contribute more to those around you and to society. This contribution will be a positive one. The world really needs your contribution, your unique views and ideas.

Also, inner criticism, that nagging voice of disapproval inside you, is common when you suffer from low self esteem or lack of confidence (as shown in this study by Noordenbos, Aliakbari and Campbell) . This negative self talk may cause you to stumble at every challenge, or give up quickly convincing you it’s impossible. As your self esteem suffers, other’s desires may take preference over yours.

Even worse, as the above study by Noordenbos et al. shows, the effects of low self esteem and inner criticism may help cause eating disorders. There is no doubt that low self esteem and self criticism can therefore be quite dangerous.

Positive self esteem helps to get your priorities and needs in balance. Self care is very important and a lack of self esteem can lead you to neglect your own needs. Again, this can be quite dangerous to physical and mental health.

So, how do you actually improve your self esteem? Let’s now look at real steps you can take to improve it.

16 Tips For Building Self Esteem

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(Video) Meet Yourself: A User's Guide to Building Self-Esteem: Niko Everett at TEDxYouth@BommerCanyon

1. Face your fears

challenges seem scary but your fears are usually exaggerated. Therefore, facing your fears increases your confidence and boosts your esteem.

This is easy to say but how do actually go about overcoming your fears and do what scares you?

Well, there is only one answer to this. I have experienced the difficulty of overcoming extreme shyness and I went through such pain. At university I realised I had to face my fears and overcome this problem instead of running away from it. So I planned how to do this. I broke challenges into smaller goals and monitored my success with each small success in a daily journal. As I progressed, I gained in confidence. First I started a conversation with a stranger. Next I talked to someone I had been nervous around before. Then I slowly built up to the big one, giving a presentation in front of a group of people.

You can do the same and overcome your fears. Don’t hide any longer!

2. Learn from your setbacks

Mistakes, failure or setbacks?

There is a huge world of difference between these terms. As a teacher I know all too well the value of mistakes. They help learning because they reveal what you don’t know or need to improve on. Mistakes can guide you in new directions and remind you that your work is not done.

However, mistakes and failure are negative words. It is easy to become afraid of making errors or failing. In fact, fear of failure is one of our strongest reasons not to try new things. This article in the LA Times discusses how strong this fear is, and gives an interesting perspective on overcoming it.

One necessary step, then, is to think of setbacks rather than failure or mistakes. This way you think of these setbacks as just temporary road blocks on your journey to your end goal. If you keep thinking you’ve failed or made a big mistake you’re more likely to think of giving up, whereas a setback can be overcome and is just a minor delay to your success.

3. Ask for what you want

As the saying goes, you don’t get what you don’t ask for. So ask for it! Have courage, you may be surprised by the answer. If you want more confidence in your life, then act confidently. A confident person just asks, they don’t hesitate.

Now, even the most confident of us do not get everything they ask for. But at least they have expressed their wishes and presented the thought to the person(s) who will decide. They get noticed, even admired for having the courage to ask.

Often, low self esteem stops you from asking directly and you may get overlooked because if you don’t act, another person will. To feel confident, act confidently.

One word here, if there is anything about your appearance that you would really like to change and if that would really help you to build more confidence, then go for it! For example, many men suffer from premature baldness and could benefit from a hair transplant, this page explains more about how a hair transplant could help you.

Take action Now

Take action and start building your self esteem today. Try self hypnosis downloads and build your self esteem starting today. Highly recommended, hypnosis is ideal for you if you need more confidence.

(Video) How To Build Self-Esteem - The Triple Column Technique (CBT)

4. Reflect on your success.

No-one else will! Isn’t everything easier when you take time to encourage yourself? Make a list of your successes and focus on the positive. This can only help you.

5. Don’t give up easily!

Try something else, or are you going to be defeated by one failed attempt? After all, doesn’t everyone fail before they succeed? Maybe all you need is a different approach?

The kind of success and achievement which will boost your confidence often does not come easily. It requires hard work and dedication. If you can keep to the task and stay on track, you can achieve anything! That will bring you true confidence!

Good luck! I wish you happiness and success as you learn how to build your self esteem.

6. Feed your mind with positivity

After I battled with severe depression and low self esteem over many years, I began to feed my mind with positivity and starve it of negativity. I figured that for years my mind had been fed by negativity and that hadn’t worked.

So, I stopped watching the news every day on TV. I started to listen to relaxing and inspiring music, especially New Age Music. I started to read positive quotes each day. I started this website and began to write positive posts myself to help others. I read books that helped me straighten out my thinking. I began meditating. I took a course in Life Coaching and then started teaching in England in Summer.

Funny, as soon as I focused on positive things and left behind the negativity I found myself again and my confidence began to return as I started working, teaching and coaching.

Ditch the negative things on TV and online and embrace the positive. You’ll soon be happy you did!

7. Make a list of your strengths and positive qualities

This action step will improve your self awareness. You are unique and you do have many strengths, even if you feel you don’t. Spend some time to think about what those strengths are. Also consider your weakness. How can you improve these?

This exercise should help you move forward in the right direction. How? Well, your strengths are things you need to use more in your work and personal life. How can you change things so you can use more of your strengths more often?

Your weaknesses do not have to hold you back. What can you do to improve those areas of weakness? Study, practice or just learn to accept the things you cannot change about yourself? Your decisions here can move you forward confidently.

8. Question your self talk

Next time you hear that negative voice within you, don’t accept every criticism it makes. Question it! Ask yourself if the criticism is justified and is it fair? Most of the things you tell yourself are not based on facts, just opinion and they can be wrong! Question your negative self talk.

9. Be grateful

There is always something to be grateful for, no matter how bad things seem. Remind yourself what these are by writing them down or repeating them twice a day. Your family, friends, pets, your home, where you live….anything that you are thankful for, your abilities or hobbies you enjoy. Go ahead and make a list of five things now.

(Video) How to Build Self Confidence and Self Esteem - Earl Nightingale

10. Spend more time with positive people

Life is too short and your self esteem is too precious to have it messed with by negative and toxic people. Spend your time with those you love and get on well with, those who support you and encourage rather than those who criticize you.

11. Focus on helping others

Often when we have problems such as low self esteem or lack of confidence, or depression, we focus too much on ourselves and our own problems. Focusing on helping others can really improve your mood and your thinking because you turn your attention outwards. By helping others you feel better inside about how you are contributing to society and the value you have.

Try doing something to help someone else today and I guarantee you’ll feel better. It’s karma at work!

12. Accept yourself

Simply accept the things about yourself you cannot change. Be happy with who you really are. Accepting yourself is about being honest and aware of what and who you are.

So there you are! 12 ways to build your self esteem. Steps you can begin taking right now. Good luck!

If you really want to take advantage of the biggest help I can offer, then go get a copy of my audio A More Confident You with many more easy to apply strategies for building your self esteem so you become unstoppable.

Four More Ideas You May Not Have Considered to Boost Your Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is best described as the level of confidence a person has in their own abilities and worth. Those who have high self-esteem, often find navigating both their personal and professional lives much easier than those who don’t. When you lack confidence in yourself, life is almost lived in constant fear of failure. It can essentially ruin your relationships and stagnate you. At some point, everyone goes through a period in their lives when they need a boost. Knowing how to do it is essentially the challenge. One thing that can give you and your flagging level of self esteem a boost is taking a vacation.

13. Learn About Your Heritage and Gain Confidence

In a diverse world, being able to identify with a culture can help boost confidence. Through learning about where you come from, essentially, you learn more about who you are. Cultural identity provides individuals with a connection to a social environment, religion, values, and beliefs. You, therefore, learn to identify with others who have the same mindsets and background.

Go beyond the family you know and consider investigating your genealogy. To determine your roots, start by looking at recent obituaries where you can find deceased relatives and learn about your past. You can also ask the elders in your family or consider taking a DNA genealogy test which would provide an in-depth look at where your bloodline comes from.

14. Unplug from Social Media and Stop Comparing Yourself

One of the biggest problems with self-esteem in this digitally advanced world is the use of social media. On social media, individuals can be who they want. Naturally, they post stories and share pictures about the things that are going well in their lives. From the outside looking in, it would appear that your peers and others you relate to or know are doing well. This can result in unfair comparisons of yourself and others.

Though entertaining, a channel for communication and business, too much social media use can be damaging to your confidence. Throughout the day, there should be moments where you unplug and disconnect from the digital social world. Allow yourself to live in the “real world” from time to time where you don’t feel the urge to compare. If scrolling through the profile of others really brings about negative emotions about yourself, you might consider ditching social media for several weeks. But what to do if you suspect you might be addicted to social media, and if it is ruining your self esteem?

15. Be Mindful of Books and Movies

Entertaining yourself with a good book or flick is a common pastime. However, the types of things you read and watch can have an impact on your self-esteem. Reading lots of fiction books, for instance, can blur the lines between fiction and reality. Romance novels in which the women are described as perfect in relationships that live happily ever after can create the illusion that you too should be perfect. Similarly, watching movies or television shows in which the leading men or women are gorgeous and perfect in every way can cause you to start over-analyzing your own life.

Though it’s okay to read and watch movies and television, it must be done in moderation. The media both print and visual are designed to entertain and play on the imagination. Therefore, when you consume too much of it, you begin to fantasize about what should be in your own life. Instead read non-fiction novels, inspirational pieces, and watch empowering or realistic movies and television shows which have characters you can relate to and learn from.

(Video) How to Build Self-Esteem – The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem by Nathaniel Branden

If you are truly serious about building your self confidence, then consider buying this special audio download A More Confident You I have developed especially to help you grow your confidence in everyday situations. I once experienced low self-esteem and depression, and so I recorded this audio CD to help you overcome these problems. To get a copy of my Audio A More Confident You click here – invest in yourself today!

16. Boost Your Self Esteem by Travelling Alone

Self-esteem issues are more common than you think. Do not go on believing that there are very few people who go through this, and the ones that do, nobody ever knows about them. In fact, if you are in a room filled with people, about 80% of them have some sort of problem regarding confidence. And the lucky ones that do not, chances are that they have been through something similar but went past it.

Reaching the conclusion that you have self-esteem problems is a huge step in its elimination. After all, you cannot solve an issue if you do not acknowledge it. You need to know what you are up against before thinking of ways how to fix it. It makes sense, right? But did you know that traveling alone can help you with self-esteem issues? To be honest, I had no idea. That was until I took a trip all on my own.

When I told people that I wanted to travel alone, the first thing I was told was that I was crazy. How can I possibly go alone through a few countries? It was a difficult decision, but now, I am glad I took it. People will try to persuade you to give up that idea for safety reasons mostly, while others will say it is not fun on your own. However, no matter what you do, if you feel like this is something you must do, you should do it regardless of what those around tell you. Just get your passport and be on your way.

One of the things that will boost your self-esteem is the decision itself. It is not an easy one, and while others may express their concerns, you will have some of them on your own. Of course, it depends on where you plan on travelling alone, but countries in Europe, for example, are incredibly safe. That is the path I took as well. Coming back to our issue, once you buy that first plane ticket, you will start telling yourself that you can do this. And that is the first thing that will make you feel more confident.

Probably the most significant factor that will boost your self-esteem while travelling alone is having to deal with all kinds of situations and people on your own. There is nobody familiar around to help you, which ultimately compels you to engage in all sorts of social circumstances. It may seem scary at first, and it is, but once you go through that once or twice, and you will, you will feel more and more comfortable. You will feel more confident the next times around.

You will meet a lot of strangers. Some of them will like you, others will not. I know it may sound a bit much, but staying in hostels during your travels may actually help a lot. I am not saying that you should sleep only in hostels, but once or twice should do the trick. Interacting with as many people as possible is one of the best ways to bring up your self-esteem. You will see how strangers perceive you. You may like what you see or not, but you will definitely want to make some changes along the way. After all, nobody is perfect.

Right now, you may be asking yourself what travelling alone has to do with your self-esteem. It seems to have more to do with confidence. That is not entirely inaccurate. It will build your confidence. However, once you are more confident, you will have more respect for yourself, and you will have a better opinion of yourself. That is not insignificant. In my opinion, it is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Even so, you should experience caution. Also, do not forget about practical things like visas. Some countries require one. But other than that, the decision is the most difficult to make. Once you have that resolution, you are on a path to better

Your self-esteem is one of those intangible things that is needed to navigate the ups and downs of life. When you feel less than good about yourself, it is time to put yourself first. By learning about your roots, unplugging from social media, and being mindful of the books and movies you watch, you can ultimately learn to identify more closely with yourself and separate the mind from the impossible, yet perfect pictures society creates today, which in turns helps you to value yourself even more.

There are other factors that can contribute to your level of self-esteem. Your career path is a major factor. Another way to help yourself is to exercise regularly.

Travelling is something that increases both your appreciation of other cultures and ways of life, as well as encouraging independence and a sense of freedom. Give yourself a boost through travelling alone.

If you want to improve all aspects of your life and inner well-being, including confidence and the issues we have covered on this page, then listening to new age music can really help and is something I do often.

Beware of Depression!

One consequence of low self-esteem can be the never-ending nightmare of depression, so go check out if you need a diagnosis of depression here.

(Video) How to Build Self Confidence | Brian Tracy

Sources

  • Coudevylle, Gernigon and Ginis. 2011. “Self-esteem, self-confidence, anxiety and claimed self-handicapping: A mediational analysis” Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 12, Issue 6, Pages 670-675
  • Greta Noordenbos, Navid Aliakbari Rachel Campbell(2014) The Relationship Among Critical Inner Voices, Low Self-Esteem, and Self-Criticism in Eating Disorders,Eating Disorders, 22:4, 337-351, DOI: 10.1080/10640266.2014.898983
  • Mayo Clinic “Self-esteem: Take Steps to Feel Better about Yourself” Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/self-esteem/art-20045374
  • Peg Moline. We’re Far More Afraid of Failure than Ghosts: Here’s How to Stare it Down. Los Angeles Times. Oct. 31, 2015. https://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-scared-20151031-story.html

FAQs

What are 10 ways to improve your self-esteem? ›

  1. Be kind to yourself. The things you say to yourself are way more powerful than you might think. ...
  2. Accept who you are. ...
  3. Get moving and stay active. ...
  4. Welcome mistakes as part of growth. ...
  5. Remember to forgive yourself often. ...
  6. Surround yourself with supportive people. ...
  7. Focus on what you can change. ...
  8. Do what makes you happy.

How do you build self-esteem and confidence? ›

How can I build my confidence and self-esteem?
  1. Be kind to yourself add. Recognise and challenge your unkind thoughts. ...
  2. Look after yourself add. ...
  3. Focus on the positives add. ...
  4. Spend time with people add. ...
  5. Learn to assert yourself add. ...
  6. Do things you enjoy add. ...
  7. Act confident when you don't feel it add. ...
  8. Try something new add.

How do you build self-esteem and does it even matter? ›

How to Create Healthy, Durable High Self-Esteem
  1. Accept Your Low or Toxic Self-Esteem for the Moment (If You Have It) We tend to get caught up on all the feelings surrounding our low self-esteem, like despair, sadness, helplessness, and so on. ...
  2. Practice Self-Compassion. ...
  3. Be Comfortable With What You Lack.

Why is self-esteem important? ›

Why Self-Esteem Is Important. Self-esteem impacts your decision-making process, your relationships, your emotional health, and your overall well-being. It also influences motivation, as people with a healthy, positive view of themselves understand their potential and may feel inspired to take on new challenges.

What are the 7 actions to improve self-esteem? ›

7 Ways to Raise Your Self Esteem
  • Believe In Yourself. It is not always easy to love yourself. ...
  • Gather The Courage. It is sometimes easier to be motivated by someone else than by yourself. ...
  • Be Optimistic. ...
  • Treat Yourself Well. ...
  • Participate In Life. ...
  • Be Self-Contained. ...
  • Establish A Purpose.

What activities help with self esteem? ›

7 activities to build your self-esteem
  • Don't deflect compliments - accept them!
  • Use positive affirmations (but only the right kind)
  • Keep a self-esteem journal.
  • Set a goal and work towards it.
  • Exercise.
  • Practice mindfulness.
  • Get off the 'gram.
4 Aug 2022

What is a good sentence for self-esteem? ›

She has very low self-esteem. Jealousy within a relationship is usually symptomatic of low self-esteem in one of the partners. All the people in the study had low self-esteem and had issues with their bodies. Her recent success at work has been very good for her self-esteem.

How you describe your self-esteem? ›

Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. It's based on our opinions and beliefs about ourselves, which can feel difficult to change. We might also think of this as self-confidence.

What are 3 keys to self-esteem? ›

3 Tips to increase your self-esteem
  • Learn that you are kind.
  • You must strive to increase your self-esteem.
  • Try to understand those who take away your courage.
26 Mar 2021

How do you value yourself? ›

Some tips on how to value yourself.
  1. You can compare yourself to others. It's not about being judgmental, but rather seeing how you're different compared to others around you. ...
  2. Make an effort to follow your heart. ...
  3. Listen to your feelings. ...
  4. Challenge your negative beliefs.
11 Feb 2013

What does it mean to build self-esteem? ›

Building your self-esteem and creating a positive self-awareness comes from taking an inventory of your own strengths and abilities as a human being. Being at peace with who you are and what you have to offer the world is a major part of having high self-esteem.

Why is self-esteem important to success? ›

Self-esteem is important because it heavily influences people's choices and decisions. In other words, self-esteem serves a motivational function by making it more or less likely that people will take care of themselves and explore their full potential.

What influences self-esteem? ›

What influences self esteem? Your self esteem can be influenced by your beliefs on the type of person you are, what you can do, your strengths, your weaknesses and your expectations of your future. There may be particular people in your life whose messages about you can also contribute to your self esteem.

What is self-esteem in life skills? ›

"...the experience of being competent to cope with the basic challenges of life and being worthy of happiness"; according to Branden (1987), self-esteem is the sum of self-confidence (a feeling of personal capacity) and self- respect (a feeling of personal worth).

How do you grow yourself as a person? ›

9 tips to grow as a person
  1. Identify your personal values. Consider exploring what matters to you — what gives you meaning and purpose. ...
  2. Practice daily gratitude. ...
  3. Adopt a healthier lifestyle. ...
  4. Meditate. ...
  5. Get quality rest. ...
  6. Set short- and long-term goals. ...
  7. Be kind to yourself. ...
  8. Embrace setbacks.

Why is it important to improve yourself? ›

Self-improvement helps enhance strengths, improve mental health, and even heal relationships. Some ways of self-improvement include simple tasks such as reading a book, trying something new, mediating, or even waking up early. There are so many simple, effective ways to start a self-improvement process.

What builds high self-esteem? ›

Make Time to Clarify Your Values. Ultimately, high self-esteem comes from living your life in a way that aligns with your values. On the other hand, if you habitually compromise on your values in the way you think and act, you're setting yourself up for low self-esteem, poor self-worth, and low confidence.

How do students build positive self-esteem? ›

Establish Personal & Educational Goals

The failure to meet an unattainable goal can diminish anyone's self-image. By improving goal-setting skills, students can learn how to manage their expectations without abandoning their ambitions. This is also an important part of establishing a positive growth mindset.

What are some 4 strategies for building a person's self-esteem? ›

There are a number of ways in which you can improve your self-esteem.
  • Identify and Challenge Your Negative Beliefs. ...
  • Identify the Positive About Yourself. ...
  • Build Positive Relationships—and Avoid Negative Ones. ...
  • Give Yourself a Break. ...
  • Become More Assertive and Learn to Say No. ...
  • Improve Your Physical Health. ...
  • Take On Challenges.

What are three examples of self-esteem needs? ›

Esteem needs encompass confidence, strength, self-belief, personal and social acceptance, and respect from others. These needs are represented as one of the key stages in achieving contentedness or self-actualization.

What are the 12 steps to high self-esteem? ›

12 Steps to Raise Your Self Esteem and Be a Better Person
  • Pay attention to how you talk to yourself. ...
  • Don't compare yourself to others. ...
  • Don't dwell in the past. ...
  • Find a “self-esteem buddy” and support each other. ...
  • Figure out what triggers your feelings of low self-esteem. ...
  • Separate your feelings from facts.

What are the 3 C's for building self-esteem? ›

Creating Confidence with the “3 Cs”

To counter the hopeless and helpless feelings of low self-esteem, Kennedy-Moore offers three keys—the 3 C's—that address children's basic needs for connection, competence, and choice.

What activities boost self-esteem? ›

7 activities to build your self-esteem
  • Don't deflect compliments - accept them!
  • Use positive affirmations (but only the right kind)
  • Keep a self-esteem journal.
  • Set a goal and work towards it.
  • Exercise.
  • Practice mindfulness.
  • Get off the 'gram.
4 Aug 2022

How do you promote self-esteem and motivation? ›

To learn how, check out these six for boosting your confidence and motivation:
  1. Dress for success. The old saying, “dress for success,” isn't so far-fetched after all. ...
  2. Practice positive self-talk. ...
  3. Exercise outside. ...
  4. Socialize. ...
  5. Daydream. ...
  6. Listen to music.
6 May 2019

What is self-esteem give example? ›

Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth or abilities. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am loved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame.

How are self-esteem needs met? ›

These needs are typically met by friends, family, and romantic partners. Esteem: Esteem is necessary for self-actualization, and a person may work to achieve esteem once needs for love and a sense of belonging are met. Self-confidence and acceptance from others are important components of this need.

What are 5 factors that affects self-esteem? ›

There are several major factors that affect self esteem. These factors include appearance, employment, financial difficulties, possessions, age, relationships, education and family. There are other external factors that may influence self-esteem, but these are the most important.

Videos

1. How to Build Your Self-Esteem and Self Confidence | Brian Tracy
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2. "These 3 SECRETS Will BOOST Your Self-Esteem TODAY!" | Marisa Peer
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4. How To Build Self Esteem - The Blueprint
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6. How to Raise Your Self Esteem & Confidence 😍 (HOT GIRL ERA)
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