Having low self-esteem and poor self-confidence is no way to live your life. It could have a major impact on your career, your personal relationships, and your mental health. While many people struggle with their confidence levels from an early age, there are things that can be done to make improvements and develop a healthier self-image.
- Learn new skills. If your low self-confidence is rooted in the perception that you don’t have a strong skill set, then challenging yourself by taking on new responsibilities and learning new skills could do wonders for your self-esteem. Sign up for classes, take on a new hobby, or learn a skill online. Taking a first aid refresher course perth is a great example – what better skill could you have than the ability to save a life?
- Practice a stronger posture. Many people with poor self-esteem subconsciously slouch and project their inner emotions through their body language. Simply standing straight and working on the way you hold yourself can change the way you think. It can be uncomfortable at first if you’re used to slouching, but the results are well worth the effort.
- Create an affirmations list. Even if you don’t believe them quite yet, write down a set of positive affirmations about yourself. Recite them to your reflection in the mirror every morning and evening, and keep going until you begin to believe that they’re true.
- Challenge negative thoughts. If you have a cruel inner critic who whispers reminders about your shortcomings into your ear all day long, now is the time to challenge him. Be aware of your thoughts, and take a moment to challenge any negative thinking patterns that arise during your day. Consider whether there’s evidence for the negative thought or self-criticism, then counter it with a positive response.
- Change your perspective on failure. Everybody make mistakes, and doing so doesn’t make you a failure as a human being. Try to start perceiving your so-called failures as learning experiences, and look for the potential positive outcome in each one.
- Set an exercise goal. Setting yourself a realistic, achievable short-term goal and then working hard to make it happen is a good way to improve your self-confidence. Exercise is a great place to start, as meeting these goals will also improve your health and lift your mood overall. Set a target like being able to run a 5k or lift a certain amount of weight, then come up with a plan for achieving it.
- Embrace compliments. Some people with poor self-esteem have a hard time accepting compliments, even when they’re coming from somebody they normally trust. Start trying to accept compliments when they come, and even make note of them so you can come back to them for a mood-booster when you’re feeling down.
- Fake it ‘til you make it. This strategy works well in a variety of situations, including circumstances where you feel anxious and insecure but need to project an image of confidence. Try to act as if you’re somebody with plenty of self-confidence, and behave in the way you think that person would act. Once you get more comfortable in the role, you may find that your own thoughts begin to reflect this attitude in a more sincere way.