All of us struggle with our self-confidence at one point or another. Low self-esteem that goes untreated can lead to a series of related mental and emotional concerns that can then cause a significant amount of additional damage to your feelings of self-worth. Learning how to break this destructive cycle can help you to learn how to free yourself from this mental obstacle that is keeping you from reaching your full potential.
Keep in mind that your lack of positive self-esteem can prove to be very harmful the relationships you have with your significant other, your children, and even your friends. Your feelings of inadequacy can inadvertently lead your loved ones to develop their own feelings of low self-worth!
Let’s take a look at 5 simple lessons you can use to help you overcome these mental blocks that are keeping you from living the life that you deserve.
- Let go of perfection! Many of us set ourselves up to see an imagined line of perfection that we must keep striving towards. The reality is that we are all flawed, every single one of us. Those who appear to be well put together, appear to have it all, and appear to have all of the confidence in the world? They have their own set of flaws. The only key difference is that they have found methods of coping with their perceived imperfects. And, you know, the truth is that many may simply be faking their levels of confidence!
- Take back control! All too often we tend to avoid situations that could make us feel self-conscious, uncomfortable, or anxious. Ask yourself, “What is it that scares me?” “What is the worst possible thing that could happen if I did this or went to this social event?” “What is the likelihood of the worst-case scenario happening?” Making attempts to face these events and situations that cause us the most emotional turmoil can help us feel that much stronger! You have control over the way that you react to a situation; it does not control you! For moral support, run through a few scenarios with your significant other in other to remove the worries and fears that you have about the possibilities and the unknown. You have the control!
- Methods of natural relaxation can help to you free your mind from the prison that your low self-esteem and fears have created for you. Yoga and meditation can help you to center your thoughts and help you to become more mindful of your surroundings and the situations that you fear. Simple methods of meditation, in which you focus on control of your breathing, will help you to learn how to release some of the tension and worries you are feeling. Your anxiety levels will decrease and a slow improvement in your self-worth will be felt. Make positive affirmations part of this exercise. They are a very powerful tool in overcoming limiting beliefs and lack of self-confidence.
- Leave the past in the past. Evaluations and criticisms that have been heaped upon us in the past can be a major contributing factor to our low self-esteem today. No matter who kick-started your feelings of inadequacy, you hold all of the control over the way that you feel today. Let go of those long-ago judgments and evaluations. Rather, focus your line of thinking on the person you are today and on the person who you plan on being tomorrow.
- Embrace who you are! All of those flaws, shortcomings, and failures that you believe you have? Just who would you be if you did not have those parts? Would you have missed out on important life-lessons if you have never stumbled once? Those perceived failures and shortcomings can provide you with the knowledge and the strength needed to learn how to do better and also how to be better.
Keep this in mind – if you don’t risk failure, you won’t have the opportunity to grow! You have the power over your feelings of self-worth. Decide how you want to feel and who you want to be – and set a plan into action!