{"id":4369,"date":"2021-02-11T17:51:38","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T01:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.myshapa.com\/?p=4369"},"modified":"2022-08-19T09:59:55","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T09:59:55","slug":"6-ways-to-boost-self-esteem-this-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/home.myshapa.com\/6-ways-to-boost-self-esteem-this-month\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways To Boost Self-Esteem This Month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It’s February, many of us think of Valentine\u2019s Day, love, gifts, expressing affection to our loved ones, etc. Did you know that it\u2019s also a month to boost your self-esteem? Yes, it is considered as International Boost Self-Esteem Month, a month dedicated to improving self-esteem across the globe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we begin to explore ways of expressing love for the people around us, it is important to build your self-care<\/a> and self-esteem. Considering the amount of time we might have spent alone in the year 2020, and the mental health climate around us, we all feel pressured to look a certain way based on the external world. It\u2019s important to be aware of how to talk to ourselves. Let’s create an opportunity to celebrate this month by building self-esteem and work on ourselves for a better future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Self-esteem?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jennifer Crocker, Psychologist <\/a>says that \u201cpeople who base their self-worth on what others think<\/em> and not on their value as human beings might pay a mental and physical price\u201d. Do you place your worth based on what others think? Do you place your worth based on the number on the weighing scale? You are not alone, we all have limitations and abilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is healthy and unhealthy self-esteem?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Developing healthy self-esteem<\/a> is when you feel GOOD about YOURSELF and see YOURSELF deserving respect beyond your limitations and accepting them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whereas, when you have unhealthy self-esteem is when you feel VERY LITTLE value of your ideas, and feel the VERY BIG value of your limitations. You might constantly feel that \u201cYou are not enough\u201d. This can lead to negative thought patterns. Whereas turning to develop healthy self-esteem can greatly help in accepting our limitations, recognizing our abilities thereby developing lasting healthy behaviors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what does it mean to have a healthy SELF-ESTEEM? <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

APA defines self-esteem<\/a> as, the degree to which the qualities and characteristics contained in one\u2019s self-concept are perceived to be positive or a person\u2019s overall value of one\u2019s self-worth. In simple terms, it\u2019s how much YOU APPRECIATE YOURSELF of your physical self-image, views of accomplishments, and capabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more positive and healthy the cumulative perception of these qualities and characteristics, the higher one\u2019s self-esteem. A high degree of self-esteem is an important ingredient of mental health. Whereas low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness are common depressive symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Self-Esteem Is Important<\/strong>?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Self-esteem can play a significant role in your motivation and success throughout your life. Low self-esteem may hold you back from succeeding at work because you don’t believe yourself to be capable of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By contrast, having healthy self-esteem helps you achieve, have an assertive attitude and believe you can accomplish your goals<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Ways to Boost Self-Esteem<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that 30-50% of our awake time is spent in self-talk? It\u2019s almost 8-hours a day! It\u2019s time we take a pause and observe what we talk to ourselves for 8-hours? The long 8-hour story you TELL YOURSELF defines YOUR SELF-ESTEEM. Here\u2019re 6 ways to value and recognize yourself, let go the negative mental scripts and restore healthy self-esteem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Build positive relationships <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s compare two different scenarios: <\/strong>A woman wakes up, starts working, and when done with work, starts eating all the junk food at home, watches TV while kids or a partner tries to talk. She is unconscious and refrains from paying attention to things around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another woman wakes up and tells herself and her partner, \u201chow thankful she is for her life\u201d, works passionately and once work is done, have a wholesome dinner together at the table with family. All of them stay in the present moment with each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of the above two examples, who do you think has healthy self-esteem? – The second woman! So the first tip to boost your self-esteem is to develop a practice of living consciously and building positive relationships with yourself and others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Embrace your limitations<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Here is an example: Lately, say you have started to put on a few pounds, but the internal dialogue you tell yourself is: “how come Jenny\u2019s hair isn\u2019t thinning” or \u201coh! did I mention that Jenny is also 130 pounds\u201d? – Take a pause, the comparison game is not going to help you WIN. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to recognize your limitations, improve what you can change, and learn to accept what you can\u2019t change<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-improvement always follows self-acceptance, if you don\u2019t accept that, Yes I have put on a few pounds, you can\u2019t figure out a way to improve yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Live purposefully<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Set realistic achievable goals, within your power. If you set a high expectation or an expectation that is not your goal, but a goal set by others, you may start comparing your faults and feel like a failure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set a goal that is realistic and achievable, so it can boost your self-esteem, be less overcritical to yourself and others. Be a modern-day warrior, build a strong sense of purpose and live to conquer, believe in yourself because no one else would. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Develop self-responsibility<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We can\u2019t always make a healthy choice, can we? Consciously or due to stressful situations, we may make an unhealthy lifestyle which can lead to an increase in weight<\/a>, affect your habits<\/a> and behaviors thereby affecting your health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you are placed in this situation, don’t associate yourself with the medical condition. Rather take responsibility for the situation, instead of playing the victim card. Taking responsibility can include: exercise<\/a>, eating mindfully<\/a>, improving sleep, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing a victim card may not help in developing healthy self-esteem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Be assertive<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Being grounded in what you believe in, fully stand for what you believe in, stay unapologetic and authentic to your needs, limitations, and expectations. It is important to SAY NO, and be assertive in expressing your needs and opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel like you need some time for yourself, take that time. Being assertive doesn\u2019t mean you lack social awareness, or you are being selfish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Hear yourself <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We spend about 8 hours a day in self-talk. It is important to introspect if the inner dialogue is constructive or not. If it\u2019s not constructive, recognize the emotions<\/a> attached to it and rephrase them with positive self-affirmations ( I can do this, I am enough). This can improve your self-awareness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introspection helps uncover the emotions, ask yourself the right questions and give yourself a comfortable happy conversation that\u2019s constructive! Let yourself a wonderful story you love to hear, reframe your inner dialogue! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takeaway!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n