Boost Low Self-Esteem: 10 Quick Tips to Get Started

Boost Low Self-Esteem: I’ve always had mixed feelings about the Olympics. It affects me in two ways. First, it serves as inspiration for me to do better in life. And then the other shoe drops by day two: I begin to feel like crap about myself.

Just watching these athletic competitions leaves me in a full body cast with Melissa feeding me applesauce.

 

The level of achievement attained by these athletes cannot be fully comprehended. This one went to Princeton, that one went to Stanford, the other attended both and is fluent in 15 languages – in addition to walking on the moon without a spacesuit. I’m being sarcastic but you get the idea.

 

It becomes easy for me to look at my life and question what I have achieved thus far. Behold the self-inflicted belittlement. Keep in mind, I am experiencing this in the wake of having joined AARP and throwing out my back.

If you look at me from behind, my body looks like “Ten minutes to 6 O’clock.” My head and shoulders are bent to the left and I look like I’m auditioning for the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

 

But then I zoom out and the good stuff happens. I take inventory of my accomplishments and the gold medals I’ve earned from my life’s struggles and victories.

 

  • I met Melissa and we became husband and wife.
  • I graduated university.
  • I’ve clawed my way out of the aftermath of multiple suicide attempts, survived stints in locked down psych wards, and lived in a halfway house (in my twenties).
  • I’ve successfully managed my bipolar and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
  • I’ve started and operated successful business ventures.
  • I’ve overcome a multitude of job-related injuries such as a torn bicep tendon, a bulging L-5 disc, and a chainsaw accident which almost took my hand (think of that visual). I’ve also had reconstructive surgery after blowing out my shoulder. I keep on rolling though. 

 

These are some of my Gold Medals.

 

If you are experiencing these feelings of low self-esteem - no matter the source, I encourage you to take a step back and look at your life.

What’s your list of gold medals?

I have no doubt you have them. 

Lastly, you never know who’s getting inspiration from you and your medal ceremony.

 

On to my next competition….~Ted


Boost Low Self-Esteem: 10 Tips to Get Started ~parts adapted via Au.Reachout.com

1. Be nice to yourself

That little voice that tells you you’re killin’ it (or not) is way more powerful than you might think. Make an effort to be kind to yourself and, if you do slip up, try to challenge any negative thoughts. A good rule of thumb is to speak to yourself in the same way that you’d speak to your mates. This can be really hard at first, but practice makes perfect. 

Try: Writing down three things that you like about yourself.


2. You do you

Comparing yourself to other people is a sure-fire way to start feeling crummy. Try to focus on your own goals and achievements, rather than measuring them against someone else’s. Nobody needs that kind of pressure!

3. Get movin’

Exercise is a great way to increase motivation, practice setting goals and build confidence. Breaking a sweat also cues the body to release endorphins, the feel-good hormones.


4. Nobody’s perfect

Always strive to be the best version of yourself, but it’s also important to accept that perfection is an unrealistic goal.


5. Remember that everyone makes mistakes

You’ve got to make mistakes in order to learn and grow, so try not to beat yourself up if you forget to hit CTRL+S on a super-important assignment. Everyone’s been there.



6. Focus on what you can change

It’s easy to get hung up on all the things that are out of your control, but it won’t achieve much. Instead, try to focus your energy on identifying the things that are within your control and seeing what you can do about them. 

Try: Writing down one thing that you're not happy with, and three ways you could change it.



7. Do what makes you happy

If you spend time doing the things you enjoy, you’re more likely to think positively. Try to schedule in a little you-time every day. Whether that’s time spent reading, cooking or just conking out on the couch for a bit, if it makes you happy, make time for it.



8. Celebrate the small stuff

You got up on time this morning. Tick. You poached your eggs to perfection. Winning. Celebrating the small victories is a great way to build confidence and start feeling better about yourself.

Try: Writing down three things you did well at the end of each day.


9. Be a pal

Being helpful and considerate to other people will certainly boost their mood, but it’ll also make you feel pretty good about yourself.


10. Surround yourself with a supportive squad

Find people who make you feel good about yourself and avoid those who tend to trigger your negative thinking.

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