Cultivating self-esteem and building confidence are tough but doable. Worry not, as there are smart ways that you can build yourself up.
With the following tips, you can improve your feelings of self-worth, which eventually will make you feel more confident with better self-esteem.
Talk yourself up
Talking yourself up or basically doing self-talk is the voice speaking in your mind – your inner voice.
Your self-talk can affect how you feel about who you are. The running commentary inside your mind is always going on in the background, but it can be either positive or negative.
If it’s positive, it’ll make you feel good about the things going on and about yourself. If this is positive, it’s like having a cheerleader, an optimistic voice that always looks on the bright side of things.
For example, “I can do it. There is no stopping me this time. I prepared for it. While I feel a bit nervous, I will do my best.”
On the other hand, negative self-talk can make you feel that something wrong is going to happen, that nothing is good about yourself, and that things won’t get better.
For example, “Everyone thinks I’m not good enough. I don’t think anything could get better.”
So how do you do self-talking?
- Take note of the things you’re thinking about and saying to yourself daily.
- Always challenge that self-talk, such as asking what you’d say if one of your friends were in the same situation.
- Change the self-talk. Instead of letting the negative take over, think about and list positive things that you like about yourself.
Don’t compare yourself with others
Improve confidence by not comparing yourself with others because it is destructive to your confidence and self-esteem.
Otherwise, you might think that you should be the same as others who you believe have everything in life together.
By comparing yourself to others, you might not achieve real happiness because you’ll always look at life as a competition.
In the process, you can be too hard on yourself, because you won’t see your unique qualities.
To stop comparing yourself to others, know that your worth comes from the inside, not dependent on what others are doing (or saying).
Accept that there’s always going to be someone better than you at something, and that’s life. But think of this – there are also things at which you are better.
Overall, set realistic self-expectations, do not dwell on perfectionism, and be kind to yourself.
Do what makes you happy
Boost your self-confidence and self-esteem by doing things that make you happy.
For example, you can check out new activities that will make you feel proud for stretching your wings.
And if you did succeed, learn how to celebrate your success. Enjoy your achievements!
Also, do you have a passion for something you’ve not engaged in for awhile? Do you love hiking or camping? Do what makes you happy.
To up your happiness, be your own BFF. What are those things you love about you? Are you hardworking, creative and funny?
By becoming your own best friend, you can learn how to silence your inner critic and change a negative into a positive thought.
Don’t forget about friends
Find real friends that make you feel good and let you see the good in you. Be with a positive group of friends that like you for you.
With a support system, you have people that you can rely on and trust. In the process, you can build your self-confidence and self-esteem because these people will build you up instead of down.
With a support system, you’re connected to people that give you the chance to bring out the best in you. They’re always ready to support your endeavors and give a boost, especially when you’re starting to lose confidence.
At the end of the day, having friends to trust will have a huge effect on your happiness, self-esteem and confidence.
Increase positive emotions
Last but not least – lift your emotions up. Look after yourself (your health, well-being, happiness). If you want to engage in hobbies, do it. Being involved in new activities can make you feel good about yourself and increase self-confidence.
With a new activity, such as hiking or camping, you’ll be able to refresh your mind and shut off any negative thoughts, eventually leading to reduced worries and anxiety.
And for better stress and anxiety reduction, you might also want to try cannabis strains for anxiety and depression.
With MMJ, you can clear your mind of negative thoughts, allowing you to regain mental health and improve self-esteem.
While building confidence and improving self-esteem is no easy task, there are simple and effective ways on how to do so. By following these tips, you can turn the negative self-talk into positivity, increase positive emotions and stop comparing yourself with others.