Wednesday 24 October 2012

How To Improve Self Esteem - Seven Steps To Be More Confident About Yourself

Author: Kara Heissman
In the simplest sense, self esteem is how we feel about who we are. Self esteem is not something that we inherit from our mom and dad or something that we have the moment we are conceived. We all want to live a happy and successful life; but this is easier said than done, especially for people who are afflicted with low self esteem. Good thing there are things we can do to improve our self esteem. However, you can't just improve your self esteem right away, it is a long and often challenging process that needs commitment. Here are seven steps on how to improve self esteem:

Step 1

Have a realistic appraisal of life's problems. You have to have a realistic evaluation of your problems so you can find the correct solutions for them. For example, common sources of stress like traffic and long lines in the cafe are not really problems unless you perceive them as such. You need to accept the fact that life is and will never be perfect--it will always come with hassles, dilemmas and challenges. If you are able to see things in a realistic perspective, you will be able to face problems and challenges more effectively.


Step 2

Don't compare yourself with others. Inasmuch as you are more talented or gifted than others, there are also others who have more than what you have. You will find yourself feeling short very often if you keep on playing the comparison game.


Step 3

Stop being your own worst critic. You cannot develop high self-esteem if you repeat negative phrases about yourself and your abilities. Rather, fill your head with positive statements and affirmations. Whenever you say positive affirmations, you allow yourself to experience positive and motivating feelings. Whether speaking about your appearance, your career, your relationships, your financial situation, or any other aspects of your life, avoid self-deprecating comments. You should be your biggest fan!


Step 4

Point out the things that make you feel bad about yourself. Take heed of what your triggers are and try to avoid them or better yet, learn ways to better cope with them. For example, if it is the way you look that is causing you to feel bad about yourself, take measures to improve it--go to the gym and dress well.

Step 5

Associate with positive, encouraging people. If you form friendships with people who are pessimistic and controlling, you are likely going to feel bad about yourself most of the time. On the other hand, your self esteem is sure to improve if you are constantly in the company of people who encourage you all the time and accept you for who you are.


Step 6

Take action! You will not get anywhere if you just keep on thinking about your self esteem issues. When you act--whatever the ensuing result, you will feel better about yourself. If you let your fears keep you from achieving what you want, you will end up feeling disappointed with yourself.


Step 7

Be forgiving when all your plans do not succeed. Each of us falls short sometimes, but rather than focusing on the negative aspects, learn to readjust your goals so that you have a better chance of meeting them. Just look at each failure as a stepping stone towards reaching your goal.


Not a lot of people are aware of how much impact low self esteem can have on a person's life. The good thing is, our self esteem is not carved in stone--we can change and improve the way we feel about ourselves if we want to. I hope these simple tips on how to improve self esteem has helped you in some way.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/how-to-improve-self-esteem-seven-steps-to-be-more-confident-about-yourself-6252431.html
About the Author
I am Kara Heissman, owner of self-improvement blog Contented Life.org. I have seen over the years how the quality of people's lives are reduced by their inability to find solutions for certain difficulties in their lives. With the great want to help, I have decided to put up a blog where I could share my experiences, knowledge and insights and help everyone live the life that they deserve--happy, healthy and fulfilled. My writings mainly revolve around stress, self esteem and health and fitness.

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