Do you sometimes feel down on yourself and struggle to see yourself in a positive light? You are not alone. Many of us experience a lack of confidence at some point in our lives, which can impact mental health and make it harder to take action and even appreciate ourselves.

While external factors such as achievements or relationships may contribute to feeling better about ourselves, ultimately, the power rests within us—our self-esteem is something that we actively cultivate each day through small yet powerful habits. We often end up gaslighting ourselves by comparing ourselves to others and magnifying our faults instead of appreciating our strengths. Here are ten ways you can work towards boosting your self-esteem.

1. Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself

When your self-esteem is low, it’s easy to feel alone. Spending time with supportive people can make all the difference in increasing self-esteem. It is vital to surround yourself with individuals who have a positive outlook and are receptive to different opinions and perspectives. These are the people who provide us with an environment of unconditional acceptance, understanding, and encouragement.

Their kind words and understanding attitude reassure us that we are loved and valued for who we are. Furthermore, spending time with such people helps us recognize our worthiness, inner strengths, and abilities. So, taking the time to seek out and surround yourself with people who you know will be supportive is essential for boosting your mental health and self-esteem.

Taking care of yourself is one of the best things you do for your self-esteem. Exercising and eating healthy foods will help you maintain your physical health, but mental health benefits cannot be overstated. Exercising can help release endorphins in the brain, which boosts your mood and decreasesfeelings of stress or anxiety.

Also, developing good eating habits such as avoiding sugary or processed foods, adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, and drinking lots of water may help boost cognition and provide energy throughout the day. Lastly, getting enough rest will allow you to think more clearly and process difficult emotions better. Taking the time to nurture yourself in these ways will improve your physical well-being and self-esteem significantly.

Achieving a goal is a great feeling! This encourages us to develop our skills and motivates us to finish tasks we might find complex or challenging. Making a plan and breaking down larger tasks into more manageable pieces can help make these goals more attainable. Additionally, celebrating successes along the way gives us increased confidence in our abilities; it reinforces positive self-esteem and allows us to recognize the hard work we’ve put in.

If you want to improve your self-esteem, one of the most important things you can do is learn to talk to yourself positively. Instead of dwelling on your weaknesses or mistakes, focus on what you’re doing right. It’s not always as easy as it sounds, but the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. And don’t forget to be patient with yourself. Like anything else, it takes time to change how you think and feel about yourself.

Getting outside our usual routine and trying something new can boost confidence as we gain strength from taking risks. However, these decisions should not overwhelm or cause stress but instead challenge you in a productive way. Whether it’s taking an online class in something that interests you, joining a club with like-minded people, or facing your fears in some way- there are lots of small ways we can push ourselves out of our comfort zone and start to feel more empowered about our abilities.

Taking a few moments throughout the day to do something that pleases us can positively impact our mental and physical well-being. Every person is unique and needs different activities to enjoy — whether it’s listening to your favorite music, going for a walk outside, or indulging in one of your favorite hobbies. Doing something you know will bring happiness into your life will be sure to boost your self-esteem and help you get through difficult times.

Even though failures can be tough to deal with, it’s important to remember that they can also be helpful learning experiences if you reframe your thinking. Instead of seeing failure as a loss or setback, why not treat it as an opportunity to grow and develop? Not only can this help increase feelings of self-esteem, but it can also make it a lot easier to move forward and achieve success. Reframing how we think about our failures is always the first step in transforming our feelings, so take the time to challenge negative beliefs and focus on positive outcomes!

Setting healthy boundaries, whether within yourself or in relationships with those around you, can greatly contribute to the strength of your relationships and the improvement of your self-esteem. Boundaries clarify acceptable behavior and delineate our expectations for ourselves and our loved ones, helping us communicate those needs clearly and assertively. By having firm boundaries, we send the message that we will not tolerate mistreatment, instead commanding respect and honoring what’s important to us.

Practicing gratitude can be an immensely positive and rewarding experience, as it can encourage us to recognize our strengths and achievements. Expressing gratitude regularly allows us to focus on the positive in ourselves and our life circumstances. It enables us to realize and acknowledge what we may otherwise take for granted, such as meaningful relationships, good health, personal growth, and success. Gratitude encourages a sense of self-worth and appreciation of who we are and what we have in life, which naturally leads to improved self-esteem.

A therapist can help you see yourself in a more positive light and appreciate your worth. You will be able to work through any self-doubt or negative thinking patterns holding you back. In therapy, you will receive support and understanding, which can help to boost your self-esteem. At Serene Health, we have a team of caring, licensed therapists here to help you on your mental health journey.

We understand that mental health is essential to overall well-being, and we strive to provide our clients with a safe and supportive environment. We offer a variety of behavioral health and mental health services along with flexible appointments from our Telehealth platform so you can speak to a therapist at a time and location that’s convenient for you. Call us at 844-737-3638 or visit www.serenehealth.com to schedule an appointment.