Having low self-esteem can suck. No honestly, it can!
The term ‘Self-esteem’ refers to how we feel and think about ourselves. A myriad of things can affect our self-esteem including bullying, being criticized often, self-comparison for example. In turn this can have a negative impact on how we relate with ourselves and others. So down below are self-esteem exercises to use during your week.
Self-compassion
One of the best ways to boost your self-esteem is to be compassionate to yourself. This involves giving yourself grace for example if you make a mistake at school or work. It can also look like speaking to yourself kindly, practicing mindfulness and relaxation.
Challenge negative thoughts about yourself
Sometimes it’s easy to get down on yourself and remember the negative or critical things that have been said about you. However, having negative thoughts about yourself swirling around in your mind can lead to low mood. So to combat this, try imagining yourself in a courtroom, where the opposition is yourself and engage in a ‘for and against’ trial. This exercise often involves reflecting upon these negative thoughts about yourself and trying to find the evidence for them.
Surrounding yourself with positive people who uplift you
It’s super important to surround yourself with individuals who help you to become a better version of yourself. The last thing you need is negative influences or people discouraging or heavily criticizing you.