Increasing self-esteem and self-confidence doesn’t magically turn us into superheroes, but it’s the first step in conquering everyday challenges and pursuing ambitious goals. Low self-esteem can significantly hinder our path to dreams and aspirations. When we stop believing in ourselves, our potential, and our abilities, the external world and those around us begin making decisions that should be solely ours. The good news is that our level of self-esteem isn’t hardcoded in our genes. While you can’t choose the color of your eyes or hair, you can always learn to respect yourself more, acknowledge your limitations, and appreciate your strengths. Yes, self-esteem can be learned. In the past, I discussed five lessons to boost self-confidence. This time, I want to share five practical actions that have proven highly effective in increasing self-esteem.
While I’ve always valued substance over style, taking care of oneself, improving physical appearance, and dressing well can significantly impact self-esteem. Sometimes, when feeling down and out of shape, a bit of physical activity, a refreshing shower, and our favorite outfit can work wonders in boosting our self-confidence.
Enhancing our appearance makes us feel better and helps create a new self-image. Much of our self-esteem is tied to the mental image we project. This image is only sometimes accurate, and we often emphasize our flaws over our strengths. This self-image isn’t set in stone; it’s more like digital retouching software. It’s not about lying to ourselves but rebalancing our strengths and weaknesses for healthier self-esteem.
Another crucial aspect of self-esteem is linked to the goals we manage to achieve. In some periods, we’re continuously failing, eroding our self-esteem. Causes can vary, from bad luck (less frequent than we think) to our lack of self-discipline (often but not always the case) and the constant delays and obstacles we hadn’t anticipated. However, we often need help to reach our goals because of how we define them. Better-defined goals can lead to better results and, consequently, higher self-esteem.
We tend to remember our failures too well and forget our successes and strengths. A personal journal where we document our daily thoughts and experiences, both positive and negative, can help us maintain a more objective view of our past achievements. Understanding what we’ve faced and how we’ve overcome challenges can be a vital catalyst for boosting self-confidence.
It never ceases to amaze me how our body language and gestures influence our mindset and vice versa. An American saying goes, “Fake it till you make it,” which suggests that even before having high self-esteem, you should behave as if you were supremely confident. Here’s a practical example: try speaking slowly and confidently. Speaking with poise and composure indicates mastery of the subject matter and that there’s no need to rush to express your opinion.
As E.E. Cummings once said,
“When we believe in ourselves, we can experience curiosity, happiness, surprise, and all those emotions that make us profoundly human.”
Your journey to higher self-esteem begins with these five practical actions. In your experience, what actions have allowed you to boost your self-confidence?