Five Strategies To Boost Your Self Esteem

Five Strategies to Boost Your Self-Esteem

Do you feel like you are not your old self? This happens even to the best of us but there is a way to get it back. Here are 5 strategies that have been tested and proven to boost your self-esteem.

The first strategy is to change your body language. How we sit and how we move shows a lot about who we are. This is because when people look at you, they observe not only your verbal signs but also those that are nonverbal. The best way to show people that you have high esteem is sitting up or standing straight, keeping your upper body relaxed, smiling, keeping your chin up and breathing normally.

The second strategy involves recalling past victories. You probably experienced a few challenges as you were growing up but you are able to overcome them. Although the obstacles you may be facing right now are a little different, it doesn’t change the fact that you can also succeed like you did before so don’t sell yourself short and use that as a moral booster.

Now that you have recalled past victories, you can picture yourself achieving others in the future. This third strategy is known as visualization.

Here, you try to imagine what you want to achieve and how you will do it. One way to do that is to play some relaxing music in the background and then picture everything in your head from start to finish.

Studies have shown this increases the chances of you succeeding in something because it prepares you mentally for what should happen. You just have to do it when the time comes by performing in real time what you have seen in your head.

The fourth strategy is to think positive. If think that you can do it, chances are you will be able to succeed. To do that, you have to come up with a positive phrase and say this to yourself over and over again. When you think of the phrase, remember that it can something simple such as “I can do it.”

The fifth strategy is similar to the fourth but aside from saying you can do it, you have to plan what you are going to do first and then take the proper action. The first you have to do is ask yourself what you want to do. Once you know that, you can do some research to see how this can be achieved. When everything has been prepared, all you have to do is execute than plan and await the results.

As you can see, the five strategies to boost your self-esteem are easy. If you practice it often, it won’t be long that this becomes second nature. But aside from believing in yourself, don’t forget you have to put in some time and effort to practice what you are going to do.

You have to remember that no one won a gold medal in the Olympics without practicing or achieved a distinguished award in school without studying so that means you have to put in some time into it.

Self-esteem is something we all have. It developed as we grew up which is why it is higher in some and lower in others. If you want to do more in life, naturally you have to improve yours by trying one of the 5 strategies.

BONUS : Title:
"Five More Ways To Escape Uncomfortable Feelings of Low Self-Esteem and Poor Self-Confidence"

Word Count:
1053

Summary:
Diminshed levels of self-esteem and poor self-confidence are often shown in certain human behaviour. This article gives a list of five emotional ways that uncover this human lack. In addition it provides solutions to solve one's poor level of self-esteem and lack of self-confidence.


Keywords:
self-esteem, self-confidence, confidence, personal development, self image, self worth, overcome low self-esteem, boost self -esteem


Article Body:
Copyright 2006 Dr Joe Rubino

Many people live their entire lives without getting to the source of what originally caused their feelings of low self-esteem. Because they are unaware of how they can heal their painful past and reframe the circumstances that originally resulted in interpretations of being unworthy, unlovable, or deficient in some way, most people instead often resort to finding ways to distract themselves from the unpleasant sensations that accompany feeling inferior. Instead of effectively silencing the nagging voice of past hurts, they seek out distractions to help them temporarily forget about their lacking confidence and deficient self-image. Five of the more common ways to relieve the pain of low self-esteem and poor self-confidence involve excessive attention to work, food, sports, sex, or even shopping. Like all addictions, they help to distract from but do not resolve the underlying problem and so one is still plagued by feelings that will continually require greater efforts from which to hide.

Workaholism

In our culture, work is usually an acceptable means of diverting our attention. Through hard work, we busy ourselves to the extent that we lack the free time needed to brood over our sorrows. Those who work excessively are often too tired to worry about a lacking social life or the pursuit of fun pastimes that they often likewise believe they do not deserve to experience. Work provides rewards such as money, recognition, and a feeling of accomplishment, all of which help to compensate for feelings of failure in other areas of life.

It’s not that a commitment to work is bad. In fact, it is quite admirable as just one component to a well-balanced life. However, when pursued to excess, it doesn’t allow for the honoring of other equally important elements such as a commitment to family, friends, fun, recreation, personal and spiritual development, etc. An obsession with work can take its toll on health, relationships, and missed opportunities for other equally valuable pursuits.

Moreover, when work is undertaken from the perspective that one is ‘not good enough’ in one or more aspects of their being, it can’t be fully enjoyed. Feelings of low self confidence and little self-esteem diminish one’s energy by consuming attention that could have been spent more productively in the joyful pursuit of one’s goals, rather than as a distraction from persistent negative self-talk.

Over-Eating

Like working excessively, an obsession with food is often a common escape from feelings of unworthiness. Eating can serve both as a distraction and a way to make ourselves feel better temporarily. We often seek from food the emotional connection that we are lacking in close, intimate relationships. Frequently, food is linked in our minds to happy times with family or friends. Perhaps we experienced food rewards from our parents or authority figures for scholastic or sports accomplishments. For many, food has become synonymous with love. And so in times of stress, fear, and loneliness, many turn to food to fill a void that only love and self-fulfillment can satisfy.

Habitual overeating also results in being out of shape, overweight, and generally unattractive in the paradigm of Western modern-day culture. The more one eats as a substitute for missing self-love and intimacy with others, the more obese he or she is likely to become. This in turn reinforces the feeling that the heavier the person becomes, the less she fits in and the lower her self-esteem and self-confidence plummets. The greater the feelings of loneliness and not fitting in that result, the more she is likely to seek comfort in food (especially the high carbohydrate, high fat, high comfort variety). A vicious cycle is thus set in motion ensuring more weight gain and lower self-esteem.

Sports and Other Physical Outlets

Some people run to overcome feelings of loneliness, boredom, depression or lacking self-worth. Some pump iron, play golf, or work out at the gym while others find their own unique way to divert their focus through exercise, hobbies, or sports. Many would argue that such a diversion is a healthy way to funnel energy into an activity that contributes to good physical health. However, like any obsession, when taken to the extreme for the purpose of diverting attention from issues in need of resolution, it can become an unhealthy means of avoiding areas in serious need of attention.

Sex

An obsession with sex outside of a healthy, loving relationship can likewise become a means of distraction to take the focus away from self-esteem and self-confidence issues. Whether it’s Internet porn sites, an obsession with strip clubs, or the need for frequent casual sexual encounters, all serve as an effort to numb the pain of isolation. Ironically, the greater the obsession to connect with others through meaningless sexual experiences, the greater one’s sense of isolation will likely become.

Shopping

Another common obsession to compensate for a low self-image is shopping. While some find temporary comfort in making themselves feel more attractive by purchasing the latest, most stylish clothes, shoes, accessories, or even cars and other expensive toys if their budget allows (and many times even if it does not!), compulsive shoppers find that the comfort they seek in material items is typically short lived. They often fool themselves into thinking that next new dress, sport coat, outfit or cologne purchase will make the difference they seek in having them feel better about themselves. Sadly, it never does. However, all too often such excessive spending sprees send the shopaholic deeper into debt. This further reinforces or worsens the failure interpretation they already possessed and continues to diminish their self-esteem and confidence level.

There are countless other addictions that people resort to in an effort to find meaning in life when their own self-worth is lacking. Whether it is compulsive gambling, studying, puttering in the yard, decorating the house, or whatever other diversion, those who lack inner peace will not soon find it externally with a focus that seeks to cover up feelings of being unworthy or unlovable.

Thankfully, there IS a way to reclaim one’s self-worth and restore self-esteem to a high level providing internal comfort and fulfillment. For a complete roadmap to reclaiming self-esteem, visit TheSelfEsteemBook.com and discover all details of this strong authentic formula that will assist you in boosting your self-esteem and self-confidence.