5 Ways to Deal With Low Self-Esteem

To have low self-esteem means that you have very little opinion about yourself. In this post, I'll share with you 5 ways to deal with low self-esteem.

Self-esteem describes a person's sense of worth. It involves the beliefs that you have about yourself. So, it could be how you rate yourself; success or failure, especially when you compare them to others. It could also be how you feel about your looks. 

So, a person with healthy self-esteem feels positive about their abilities, looks and their approach to life, generally. A person with low self-esteem, on the other hand, constantly judge or criticize themselves. They don't believe in their abilities. As a result, they don't think that they deserve to have certain things before certain people (people they consider to be more successful than them). They think negatively about themselves.

Low self-esteem can affect nearly everything that they do, including how they conduct relationships. How? Well, when you see yourself as unlovable, incompetent, inadequate, unacceptable, etc., you'd always compare yourself with others and see them as better than you.

However, here's the good thing; you can learn to deal with low self-esteem and become confident. How?

Below are 5 ways to deal with low self esteem:

1. Accept your flaws

The first thing to do when dealing with low self-esteem is to acknowledge and accept your flaws. The truth is no one is perfect; everyone has their weaknesses. However, the difference between people who are self-confident and those with low self-esteem is that confident people know how best to manage their flaws. To do that, you have to, first of all, accept that you have flaws, and that's okay.

When you understand that even the people that you compare yourself with have flaws, it becomes easier not to see yourself as inferior because you aren't.

So, maybe you don't like the shape of your eyeball, well that's okay. Yes, it makes you different from others, but it also makes you unique. So, feel good about yourself, your looks, or any other thing you may consider to be a flaw. That's a good place to start in dealing with low self-esteem.

2. Get to know your strengths

Okay, now you have accepted your flaws, let's talk about your strengths. You don't feel lovable, acceptable, adequate, etc., because you've been focusing so much on your flaws. How about focusing on the things that you like about yourself? Do you even know the things you like about yourself?

When you know what your strengths are, it's easy to feel good and positive about yourself. When you feel good about yourself, you're likely to feel more confident, which will, in turn, improve your self-esteem.

3. Don't compare yourself with others

One of the reasons why you think other people are better than you is because you compare yourself with them.

Yes, I understand that society puts certain expectations on us to either have something or be something by so and so time, but the truth is that you don't have to meet all of that. Learn to live your life. You're not living for society. So, no need pleasing anyone. We all have different journies, desires and goals. So, live yours and let others live theirs. No need to compare. Otherwise, you'll keep dealing with low self-esteem if you do.

4. Surround yourself with positive people

Once you stop comparing yourself with others, you need to surround yourself with the right kind of people. 

Sometimes, after discussing with certain people, you feel good about yourself while some others make you feel bad about yourself. When you surround yourself with people who constantly make you feel bad about yourself, you're likely to have low self-esteem. However, when you are surrounded by people who make you feel good, you're likely to be confident.

So, not only should you stop comparing yourself to others but also surround yourself with the right kind of people; positive people. That way you'll begin to feel lovable, competent, acceptable and happy.

5. Live in the moment

Sometimes, you need to forget the past and not burden yourself with your fears of the future if you truly want to deal with low self-esteem. Instead, live in the moment.

When you live in the moment, you can choose your thoughts and actions thoughtfully because you are unaffected by the hurts from your past and the worries of your future.

To be able to live in the moment, you have to practise self-awareness often.

An organizational psychologist, Tasha Eurich and a group of researchers studied the scientific effect of self-awareness. Their research showed that internal self-awareness is associated with higher job and relationship satisfaction, personal and social control, and happiness; it is negatively related to anxiety, stress, and depression.

So, to successfully deal with low self-esteem, you have to learn to live in the moment at all times. Take care of yourself and remind yourself that you deserve to be loved and respected.