Self Esteem Building

Self Esteem Building is important, a psychological definition of Self-Esteem is the overall sense of self-worth or personal value a person has for himself. Self-esteem is the satisfaction or confidence a person has. It encompasses both the beliefs and emotions a person has about himself and answers the question of how a person feels about himself rather than what he thinks about himself, which is termed self-concept.

Self esteem building is important because it is related to psychological well-being and a predictor of many life outcomes. For instance, those who have a positive self-esteem around certain activities like sports or academic performance tend to experience better outcomes than those who don’t. In addition, negative self-esteem has been correlated with negative outcomes such as the development of an eating disorder and other mental health disorders such as depression and suicide.

In general, self esteem building is thought of as personality trait, however, it can fluctuate up or down and it can also be globally increased over time.

People with low self-esteem tend to be influenced by others and put a lot of importance on their physical appearance. self-esteem can be decreased through peer pressure, social status, and a feeling that one can’t contribute to society at large. People with low self-esteem tend to engage in heavy self-criticism or are hypersensitive to others’ criticism. They tend to be perfectionists, experience guilt, envy, and pessimism. In addition they may rely upon defensive mechanisms and live life in a constant state of hostility.

People with high self-esteem tend to face life with confidence, benevolence, optimism, goodwill, a healthy respect for self and others, and a belief that they deserve to be happy. Those with high self-esteem have a greater capacity to foster rich relationships.

Steps to Self Esteem Building

There are steps a person can take in self esteem building. Probably the simplest system focuses on awareness.

First, a person identifies conditions, circumstances, or life events that decrease their self-esteem.

Next, the person becomes aware of the thoughts, beliefs, and self-talk they have around the low self-eEsteem triggers. The person can investigate if the beliefs are rational, logical, or based on fact or if they are only based on feelings or the worst-case scenario. Common types of thinking patterns that can decrease self-esteem include “all or nothing,” catastrophizing, converting positives into negatives, jumping to conclusions, and putting oneself down.

Then, negative thoughts and thinking patterns are challenged.

Finally, the thoughts, beliefs, and self-talk are adjusted. Thoughts can be restructured to emphasize hope, forgiveness of self and others, quitting using words like “should” or “must,” focusing on the positive, and encouraging oneself.

Engaging in activities of self-care, both psychological and physical, can also help in self esteem building. Protecting oneself from triggers and taking appropriate steps once triggered can help. So can joining support groups or seeking professional psychological counseling. Eating a healthful diet, getting enough sleep and exercise can help with self esteem building as well. There is hope for those experiencing a low self-esteem because by using these methods and others, it can be increased.