Increasing your Self Esteem

Self esteem is something that everyone talks about but what is it and what does it look like? Well, unfortunately, it is not something you can take out, hold in front of you and see and although we all have an idea of what self esteem means to us, it is not something that is put into words easily.

Self esteem is the opinion that you have about yourself, about who you are, what you think about yourself and how you value yourself as a person. Ideal levels of self esteem help us to engage with others and helps us to relate easily with other people. Usually, it is a reflection on to how confident a person feels inside. When a person has low self esteem, usually confidence levels usually low especially when the person finds themselves around strangers and when they enter in to unfamiliar territory.

If you have self esteem in abundance, excellent!!! but if you don't and you want to know how improve your confidence and raise your self esteem then read on.

If you have low self esteem and low confidence levels, it can affect all areas of your life and impact on your sense of life satisfaction. You may find it hard to make new friends and socialize or you may find it a struggle to reach your desired goals. Low self esteem can lead to depression and high anxiety levels. You may find it hard to make decisions, as you do not have trust in your judgment. Relationships may struggle as your confidence plummets, the faith you have in yourself is non-existent and you wonder what it is your partner sees in you.

So if this sounds familiar to you, what can be done about it?

Start Small - Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will your confidence levels. By laying down some foundations blocks you will be able to start slowly building up your confidence one block at a time.

In order to start boosting your self esteem and self confidence try the following:

Go out today and buy yourself a small or big journal. This is going to be your 'Self Esteem Journal' or your new best friend! Decorate it, personalise it, do anything to it which makes it feel like your special book....after all you are going to be spending a lot of time together.

Ask family and friends to name 3 of your best qualities and enter these into your book.

Each night before going to bed write down 3 things in your journal:

• What you have achieved today
• One positive thing you have noticed in yourself today
• One good thing you did today

Every time someone compliments you, instead of brushing it off and telling yourself 'Oh, they're just saying that to be nice!' (Yes, I know you tell yourself that!) write it down in your journal.

Now each time you catch yourself saying negative things about yourself, get out your journal and remind yourself about all the good things you do, all the good things you see and remind yourself that you are a unique and fantastic person!