20 Ways to Develop High Self-Esteem
If you are currently dealing with low self-esteem, you may feel a bit lost and confused, and that is okay. This feeling is needed. Sometimes you need to experience pain in order to feel stronger tomorrow. Yet, you may wonder where to find that strength and power to wake up confident in the morning.
Low self-esteem is a global problem. Society tends to demand too much from us. As a result, those stronger of us survive, while others start believing they are weak, unsuccessful, and miserable. If you are unsure of yourself, it is time to develop high self-esteem and adopt new habits.
1 Immerse Yourself in Self-Education
Self-education doesn’t mean reading dozens of books. Instead, focus exclusively on what can boost your intelligence. The more you know, the more confident you feel. Acquire new knowledge. Change your body language. Better your speaking and listening skills. Set career goals and boost your career. Never stop learning to develop high self-esteem.
Take advantage of all the time you have for self-education. For example, if you set aside two hours every day to listen to audiobooks, you will master 100-150 useful audiobooks in a year.
2 Stop Making Yourself Your Second Priority
Stopping making yourself your second priority is also considered one of the most effective ways to develop high self-esteem. Managing my people pleaser tendencies continues to be an everlasting battle for me. I’m still struggling. I used to believe that if I didn’t do what others expected from me, everyone would hate me. Thankfully, now I have a different point of view. I have made myself my first priority. This does not mean I have ditched my family and friends. It means I begin respecting myself.
If you wear yourself too thin, you should stop it as soon as possible. Stop pleasing others. Stop neglecting yourself. Say no when needed. Carve out more time for yourself. Once you make yourself your very first priority, you will have time to feel proud of your achievements and thus develop high self-esteem.
3 Acknowledge Your Blunders
Failures and mistakes help you grow as a person and develop high self-esteem. It is a part of your self-development. Running away from your blunders will cause lots of stress and significantly reduce your self-esteem. Don’t think of mistakes as small disasters. Only he who does nothing is not wrong.
Instead, take risks and commit mistakes. Your failed project is not a sign that you are a bad worker. It is a sign that you are not afraid to accomplish difficult tasks. Finally, it is a sign that you are strong and brave enough to acknowledge your blunders and move on. Acknowledging your blunders sometimes is difficult, however, it is one of the best ways to develop high self-esteem.
Read also – 7 Personality Flaws That Lead to Success
4 Go With What Feels Right
Your intuition is your treasure. Your guide. Your spirit helper. Go with what feels right to you, and let your inner voice help you. When you suppress your true feelings, emotions, and desires, you feel down and lose your self-esteem.
You believe you are not good or smart enough to follow your dreams. The truth is you are capable of doing anything human beings can do. So, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, but be confident in your goals. This is one of the most effective ways to develop high self-esteem.
5 Fill Your mind with Positive Affirmations
Accept compliments. Be happy about your achievements. Set goals and tell yourself that you will definitely reach all of them. If not, you will find another way. Live in harmony with your flaws. There is nothing wrong with you. Each drawback is a sign that you are unique.
If you are not sure that you are going to be able to make the right decision, then you will be able to make the right decision. But the main phrases should also be repeated during the day. Repeat the affirmations aloud or to yourself, or listen to a recording. Telling yourself positive things will make a difference in your entire day and develop high self-esteem.
6 Do not be Your Own Enemy
Many people tend to dig inside themselves, find their imperfections, and compare themselves to others. Rather than discover your shortcomings, explore your best traits and so develop high self-esteem.
Help yourself to be the best version of yourself. Take care of your health. Eat whole food, stay hydrated and get enough sleep. When you feel healthy, you look healthy. You make correct choices and feel the power that helps you stay confident about yourself.
7 Do not Let Anyone Cripple Your Spirit
I will tell you one thing that hopefully you will remember forever. People would never talk about you, gossip about you, and never try to bring you down if you were unsuccessful. Everyone is trying to control and manipulate you. They press you until you feel worthless and exhausted. However, as a rule, they have not achieved anything in their lives and do not want you to achieve your goals. They simply envy you.
Therefore, whatever they say, do not consider the statements and speculations of losers, and do not let their words ruin your spirit and hurt your soul. Drop them. Spend more time with those who lift your spirit and make you feel awesome. Be sure, following this tip, you will definitely develop high self-esteem.
8 Calm Your Fears
Fear can instill doubts in your mind and damage your self-esteem. It reduces faith in one’s own strength and makes one live a worthless life. But if you manage to overcome your fear, life becomes much easier. Self-esteem rises, and you get a boost of energy for a very long time.
So, whatever it takes, face your fear. Then, whether it is the fear of failure or the fear of breakup, get rid of it. We are designed to have fears, so it may seem unrealistic to overcome them. But you have great willpower to control your fear completely and calm it before it kills your self-esteem.
Read also – How to Overcome the Fear of the Future
9 Do not Ignore Criticism
Nobody likes or wants to be criticized. Sometimes, criticism is useful, though. Pay attention to what others say. But don’t take it personally. Instead, use any criticism for educational purposes to develop high self-esteem.
Just like mistakes and failures, it helps us become better. The main thing is to determine whether this criticism enables you to achieve your goal. If you feel that someone’s criticism has no sense, forget and move on. Your time is more precious than their negative words.
10 Stop Staring at the Ground
Our body tells a lot more about us than we think. So, try to Make eye contact. Keep your head high. Your posture plays a critical role in how you look and feel. People will see that you are not afraid to look in their eyes, which means you are confident about what you say and do. In addition, straight shoulders, a slender posture, relaxed eyebrows and mouth corners, a slight smile, a rhythmic gait, and even breathing are also great tips.
So the next time you feel uncomfortable, assume a confident pose, and you will automatically get rid of your complexes at that moment. By following these rules, you will not only give the impression of a confident person, but you will also be able to raise your self-esteem. Show the world that nothing and nobody will ever break your confidence.
11 Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can significantly impact our mental and emotional well-being. It is the practice of acknowledging and appreciating the good things in our lives, and it has been shown to have many benefits. When we focus on the positive aspects of our lives, we are more likely to feel good about ourselves. We begin to see ourselves in a more positive light and develop a sense of self-worth and confidence. Gratitude can also help us create a more positive outlook on life, leading to greater happiness and fulfillment.
One of the most effective ways to practice gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. This involves taking a few minutes each day to write down the things we are grateful for. It can be anything from the small things, like a beautiful sunrise, to the big things, like a supportive partner or a fulfilling career. By taking the time to acknowledge and appreciate these things, we train our minds to focus on the positive aspects of our lives.
Another way to practice gratitude is to express appreciation to others. When we show our appreciation to others, we make them feel good and strengthen our own positive emotions. It can be as simple as saying “thank you” to a friend or coworker or sending a thoughtful message to someone who has positively impacted our lives.
12 Surround Yourself with Positive People
Surrounding yourself with positive people is one of the best ways to develop high self-esteem. Positive people uplift us, encourage us, and support us. They are the ones who believe in us, even when we don’t believe in ourselves. When we spend time with positive people, we are more likely to feel good about ourselves and our abilities.
Surrounding ourselves with positive people doesn’t mean we should only spend time with people who agree with us or think exactly like us. Instead, it means spending time with people with a positive outlook on life, encouraging us to be our best selves and supporting us in our goals and dreams.
If we find ourselves surrounded by negative people, it’s important to make a change. We can seek out new friendships, join groups or organizations where we can meet like-minded people, or even seek out a therapist or counselor who can help us build a more positive support system.
13 Challenge Yourself
Challenging yourself with positive people is one of the best ways to develop high self-esteem. Positive people have a way of bringing out the best in us. They encourage us to be our best selves and to strive for our goals and dreams. When we surround ourselves with positive people, we are more likely to be challenged to grow and improve. Positive people challenge us to step outside our comfort zones, try new things, and take risks.
Challenging ourselves is essential for building self-esteem. We feel a sense of accomplishment and pride when we take on new challenges and succeed. We feel more confident in our abilities and our potential for success. Challenging ourselves with the support and encouragement of positive people can help us build our self-esteem and believe in ourselves.
On the other hand, negative people can hold us back and make it harder to challenge ourselves. Negative people may discourage us from trying new things or taking risks. They may criticize or make us feel bad about ourselves, making it difficult to build self-esteem. If we find ourselves surrounded by negative people, it’s important to seek positive people who will challenge and support us. This can mean joining groups or organizations where we can meet like-minded people, seeking a mentor or coach who can provide guidance and support, or simply spending more time with positive friends and family members.
14 Accept Compliments
It may seem like a small thing, but learning how to accept compliments gracefully can significantly impact how we feel about ourselves. When someone compliments us, it can be easy to brush it off or deflect it with self-deprecating humor. We might think accepting compliments would make us seem conceited or arrogant. However, learning to accept compliments with grace and appreciation can be a powerful tool for building self-esteem.
Firstly, accepting compliments shows that we value ourselves and our accomplishments. It’s a way of acknowledging that we have worked hard and that our efforts have paid off. Secondly, accepting compliments can help to build positive relationships with others. This can help to build trust and rapport and can lead to more positive interactions in the future. Finally, accepting compliments can help to change our own self-perception. When we hear positive feedback from others, it can be a powerful reminder that we are capable, competent, and worthy of success. Over time, accepting compliments can help to reframe our self-talk and improve our overall sense of self-worth.
Of course, learning to accept compliments gracefully is easier said than done. It can be challenging to overcome discomfort or awkwardness, especially if we’re not used to receiving compliments. However, with practice, it is possible to learn how to accept compliments with appreciation and grace. The next time someone compliments you, try responding with a simple “thank you” or “I appreciate that.” Resist the urge to deflect or minimize the compliment, and allow yourself to feel the positive emotions of being acknowledged and valued.
15 Celebrate Small Victories
When we focus on our successes, no matter how small they may be, we cultivate a positive and empowering mindset that can help us achieve even greater things in the future. If we consciously celebrate our small victories, we shift our focus to the positive aspects of our lives. This doesn’t mean we ignore our challenges or failures; instead, we acknowledge and celebrate the things that are going well.
For example, if you’re trying to develop a new skill or hobby, celebrate each small milestone along the way. You may have learned a new technique or completed a project you’re proud of. Even if the result isn’t perfect, take the time to acknowledge the progress that you’ve made and give yourself credit for your efforts. Similarly, if you’re working on a larger goal, such as getting in shape or advancing your career, celebrate each small victory that brings you closer to your ultimate goal.
We can build momentum and motivation to continue striving towards our goals by celebrating small victories. When we feel good about our accomplishments, we’re more likely to stay committed and persist through challenges or setbacks. Over time, this positive mindset can lead to even greater successes and achievements.
16 Find a Hobby
Finding a hobby is one of the best ways to develop high self-esteem. Engaging in a hobby can make us experience a sense of flow, enjoyment, and accomplishment that can boost our confidence and self-esteem.
Having a hobby can also help us develop new skills and interests, expanding our sense of self and providing a source of fulfillment outside of work or other responsibilities. Moreover, a hobby can provide a much-needed break from the stresses and demands of daily life. Engaging in a pleasurable activity can help us to relax, recharge, and feel more positive and energized. It can also help us to build new social connections and find like-minded individuals who share our interests and passions.
If you’re looking to develop high self-esteem, finding a hobby you enjoy and can be passionate about is a great place to start. Consider your interests and passions, and try out a few different activities until you find something that resonates with you. Don’t worry about being perfect or achieving a certain level of success – the point of a hobby is to enjoy the process and find fulfillment in the activity itself.
17 Do Things that Make You Happy
It might sound like an obvious point, but sometimes we forget to prioritize our happiness. Prioritizing our joy, we can experience a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that can help to boost our confidence and self-esteem. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, indulging in a favorite hobby, or simply taking a relaxing bath, doing things that make us happy can help us to feel more positive and energized.
Moreover, when we do things that make us happy, we message ourselves that we value our well-being and happiness. This can help us develop a stronger sense of self-worth and self-esteem, which can positively impact all areas of our lives.
Of course, it’s important to remember that happiness is not a one-size-fits-all concept. What makes one person happy might not work for someone else. So it’s important to take the time to figure out what brings you joy and happiness and prioritize those things in your life.
18 Speak Positively to Yourself
Speaking positively to yourself is one of the best ways to develop high self-esteem. One way to do this is by practicing self-compassion. Instead of criticizing ourselves for our flaws and mistakes, we can learn to treat ourselves with the kindness and understanding we would offer to a close friend.
Another way to promote positive self-talk is by focusing on our strengths and accomplishments. Instead of dwelling on our shortcomings, we can celebrate our successes and give ourselves credit for the things we do well. This can help us to build a more balanced and accurate view of ourselves and cultivate a sense of confidence and self-assurance.
It’s also important to pay attention to the language we use when we talk to ourselves. Instead of using harsh or critical words, we can choose a more gentle and supportive language. For example, instead of saying, “I’m such an idiot,” we might say, “I made a mistake, but I’m learning and growing from it.” By shifting our language, we can create a more positive and empowering narrative about ourselves.
19 Be Assertive
Being assertive is one of the best ways to develop high self-esteem. Assertiveness involves communicating your needs, wants, and boundaries clearly and respectfully while also respecting the needs and rights of others.
When we are assertive, we value ourselves and our needs. We are not afraid to speak up for ourselves, ask for what we want, and say no to things that are not in our best interests. This can help us establish healthy boundaries and create more fulfilling relationships at work and in our personal lives. However, many people struggle with assertiveness, often due to fear of conflict or a desire to please others. As a result, they may find it difficult to express themselves clearly or to stand up for their needs and boundaries.
Fortunately, assertiveness is a skill that can be learned and practiced. One way to develop this skill is to start small by practicing assertiveness in low-stakes situations. For example, you might try speaking up in a group meeting or politely declining an invitation that doesn’t interest you.
Another important aspect of assertiveness is learning to manage our emotions. When we communicate assertively, we want to do so in a calm and composed manner. This requires recognizing and managing our own feelings while also showing empathy and respect for the feelings of others.
20 Help Others
When we help others, we feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment, and this can boost our confidence and self-worth. There are many ways to help others, from volunteering at a local charity to simply being there for a friend in need. Whatever form it takes, helping others can profoundly impact our sense of well-being.
One reason is that helping others can give us a sense of meaning and purpose. When we know that we are making a positive difference in someone else’s life, we feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. This can help us feel more confident and motivated in our own lives as we see our actions’ impact.
Another benefit of helping others is that it can help us to build stronger relationships. By being there for someone else, we can strengthen our connection with them and create a sense of mutual support and trust. This can help us to feel more connected and fulfilled, which in turn can boost our self-esteem.
However, it’s important to remember that helping others should not come at the expense of our well-being. We need to take care of ourselves first so that we can be in a better position to help others. This means setting boundaries, taking time for self-care, and seeking support when we need it.
Figure out what or who is trying to ruin your self-esteem and remove it or them from your life. No one else is responsible for your confidence. You are the only one who decides whether you want to follow your own path or cling to the crowd. Hopefully, this article has helped you gain the level of confidence you crave.
