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Most everyone wishes that they were more confident. Sometimes we want to be more confident in our appearance, job, relationships, meeting new people, and many more circumstances. It is not inherently bad to want to feel more assured and confident in yourself. But when does this need for confidence become a problem?
Do you notice a difference in your life because you don’t believe in yourself? Maybe you don’t feel self-assured in your abilities or your decisions. These feelings are also normal, but they must also be addressed.
A lack of confidence can lead to low self-esteem, and low self-esteem can lead to much bigger problems. Learn more about self-esteem, the effects of low self-esteem, and signs you should seek a counseling psychologist or therapist.
What is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem is essentially the way that you view your overall sense of being. In other words, how much you feel you are valued by yourself, others, and society.
Many things can determine why we have our self-esteem. Majorly, our past experiences are the deciding factor. If you grow up in a household that bullies your actions or looks, you may continue to think these things as an adult.
Similarly, if you are told that you are better than others in your workplace, you may grow a sense of entitlement and arrogancy towards others.
What are the Effects of Low Self-Esteem?
As you can imagine, self-esteem plays a large role in how you live your daily life. If you find it difficult to maintain a positive view of your worth, you may have unhealthy relationships with yourself and others.
Someone with low self-esteem may have a hard time taking chances and striving towards different goals. Because of feelings of self-doubt, fear of failure, and worthlessness, it is hard to find the right mindset for success. People may have little success in school or their job if they have low self-esteem.
Those with low self-esteem will typically develop mental health concerns such as anxiety disorders and depression. It can also cause a person to withdraw from social circles and family. This entices feelings of loneliness and isolation.
According to the University of Texas at Austin, having a lack of confidence can make a person more vulnerable to substance abuse such as drugs, alcohol, and medications.
Signs You Should Seek Counseling
If you find that your life is being disrupted daily because of your low self-esteem, you should seek counseling or therapy. Going to therapy has helped many people who experience low self-esteem.
A counseling psychologist, therapist, or support group leader can help you comprehend the root of your frustrations. Once you understand why you feel the way you do, you can learn how to heal!
Through sessions and beneficial resources, your counselor or therapist can teach you how to manage your low self-esteem throughout your day.
Healing Your Low Self-Esteem at Home
Keep a Log of Your Good Qualities
Keeping a journal or a notepad where you can write down things you are good at is a great way to remind yourself of your true worth. It can be simple things such as getting to your dentist appointment on time or remembering a friend’s birthday. Over time, you will become more comfortable with your good qualities.
Change Your Inner Narrative
If you have low self-esteem, it can be easy to beat yourself down and use negative self-talk. When you feel tempted to say something bad about yourself, change the wording. Instead of saying: “I messed this up, I’m so bad at this.” say: “This didn’t go according to plan, but I’m glad I tried because I learned something new!” It may feel laborious to do in the beginning, but it gets easier with time.
Create Goals
Low self-esteem can make a person feel as though they will never succeed in life. Consider challenging this thought process by creating goals for yourself. Start with small goals that are attainable and easy to accomplish. As you begin to see success in your life, your confidence should get a good boost! Practice making daily goals for yourself and watch as your life changes.
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