SELF ESTEEM

Each and every person deserves to feel good, appreciated and loved. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Sometimes, it is possible to feel inadequate, incompetent and invaluable. This feeling is what can be narrowed down to the term “low self-esteem.”

So, how do you feel about yourself? Do you have friends, parents and teachers that belittle you or are you the one who is too hard on yourself?

CHARACTERISTICS OF PEOPLE WITH A LOW SELF ESTEEM

People with a low self-esteem:

• Expose themselves to public ridicule
• Behave in a contemptible way
• Experience unnecessary social anxiety
• Tend to experience depression sometimes
• Believe that other people dislike them
• Judge themselves harshly
• Feel bad about themselves
• Are extremely hypersensitive i.e. they are easily wounded and tend to overreact even on trivial matters

 

FACTORS THAT LOWER ONE’S SELF ESTEEM

1. Bullying

Individuals who get constantly bullied based on their physical appearance are likely to experience a low self-esteem since this greatly hurts their feeling of self-worth.

1. When adults tend to scold one more often than they praise

If one receives negative comments for making a mistake, s/he may end up despising himself or herself hence feeling bad unlike an individual who is constantly praised. It is therefore advisable for adults to practice patience when children make mistakes.

1. Mean teasing emanating from peers and/or siblings

Apart from parents, our peers too play a major role in determining how we feel about ourselves.

1. A strong inner critical voice

The main factor that boosts or lowers our self-esteem is what we tell or feel about ourselves. If you feel that you are a loser or you can never come through; then you are likely to experience a low self-esteem. On the contrary; if you strongly believe and keep on reassuring yourself that you are up to the task, you are likely to experience a moderate self-esteem.

A moderate self-esteem is experienced when an individual values his or her inherent worth without comparing him/herself to others.

            HOW TO OVERCOME A LOW SELF ESTEEM

1. Practice self-compassion- stop being too harsh on yourself. Instead, be kind and acknowledge that you are a perfect imperfection.
2. Stop comparing yourself to others – remember that you are wonderfully and uniquely made. There is no single day you will ever be like someone else. Thus, instead of worrying about how you measure up to your cohorts set your own goals that are at par with your own values.
3. Engage in meaningful and helpful activities. This is because it feels good when you help someone. These activities may encompass cleaning the church, donating, volunteering, walking for a good cause etc.
4. Tune your inner voice towards supporting and acknowledging the positive aspects of life. Many of us tend to focus on the failures and unfortunately we forget about the goodies that life has already presented. Therefore, when you are experiencing any negative thoughts, you should make a list of all positive things in your life.
5. Keep the company of people who treat you well, not those who shred your heart into pieces at the slightest opportunity.