Having a healthy level of self-esteem is crucial to your overall mental well-being. It's not just about having the confidence to do the things you want to do; knowing who you are and who you want to be is essential when it comes to forming a healthy relationship with your social environment. Here are ten ways to boost this often neglected necessity.

1. Be less harsh on yourself

To err is human, so give yourself more leeway with making mistakes. You may have forgotten someone’s birthday or offended a fellow colleague subconsciously. Perhaps you gave into the temptation of an impulse purchase, or skipped a run. Forgive yourself and do not dwell on the past. Move forward and make the effort to change for the better.

2. Show off your talents

Every person is gifted at something. It may be the art of communication, the ability to understand complex mathematics, or even the talent to draw and paint. You can even consider to turn it into a side hustle or leave it as a leisure hobby. Embrace and employ these skills to build confidence and self-esteem. 

3. Learn to say “no”

It can be very challenging to reject someone, particularly if you have been the recipient of rejection previously. Knowing how it can hurt someone else can make saying “no” a dilemma. However, accepting everything and anything that come your way can be detrimental to your mental and physical health as well. Practice turning down requests politely and firmly to avoid people-pleasing unnecessarily. 

4. Impress yourself

The only person that you need to please is yourself. Reconsider your actions and check if their purpose was to make you feel better or if they were actually being directed at somebody else. Spend time and resources on things that bring you joy and happiness (within reasonable limits of course!).

5. Allow yourself to leave

Keeping the option to walk away open is important. Excluding yourself from a social gathering, taking a break from work, or having some private time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life can help you find balance. By being comfortable with granting yourself the permission to walk away, your perception of yourself can be boosted. 

6. Open up and ask

Getting out of your comfort zone, and challenging your inertia can be a hurdle. Feeling worthy of something – such as a pay raise or help – is a key step towards building self-esteem. There certainly isn't any harm in trying!

7. Avoid shifting the blame

Being responsible and accountable for your actions can instill both discipline and self-esteem. It can also empower others' trust in you, and help you to trust yourself more. By looking at the mistakes that you have made and learning how you can improve, you can become a better person.

8. Trust yourself

Tune out that nagging voice of doubt and stop paying attention to the pessimistic side of you. Believe that you have the power to do what you set your mind to. You may be new to a task, but you possess transferable skills that will certainly be useful. You only truly lose when you stop trying.

9. Do not gossip

Talking bad about others behind their back can signal low self-esteem and insecurity. Try to gossip less and instead, redirect that attention towards self-improvement.

10. Love yourself

Self-care may sound very simple, but there is a certain nuance to it. Contrary to popular belief, loving yourself doesn't require grand gestures. Simple things like reminding yourself that you're worth it, taking the time to be grateful for the smaller pleasures in life, and even remembering to smile can make a huge difference in your life.

You deserve to bask in good thoughts and happy experiences. The world today has a way of beating us down, so it's up to us to raise ourselves back up. Try implementing some of these tips and see how they work for you!

References

https://greatist.com/live/how-to-improve-self-esteem