Having a healthy self-esteem simply means appreciating yourself for who you are. Those with a healthy self-esteem feel good about themselves, appreciate their own worth, and take pride in their abilities and accomplishments. Moreover, those with a healthy self-esteem acknowledge that they’re not perfect and have faults, but they don’t allow those faults to have a large impact or negative role in their lives.
Having a great and healthy self-esteem sounds easy, but we all know that our own imperfections and hang-ups can drag us down. Here are some simple ways to get over those hang-ups so you can exude a stellar self-esteem at work, at home, or wherever you are!
Stop setting unattainable goals. Nothing can kill your self-esteem more than unrealistic expectations. Having a perfect body or owning your own private jet are things that are unlikely to happen; so why set yourself up for failure? Instead, focus on goals that are important to you and that you know you can achieve. For example, walking 30 minutes a day can help you lose weight and moreover, get healthy. And walking 30 minutes a day is definitely something you can achieve. Focus on goals you can achieve, and your self-esteem will flourish.
Take stock of your accomplishments. Take time to recognize and celebrate accomplishments as you achieve them. This can and should include the small stuff like sticking to your budget, completing your tasks on time, and eating a healthy snack. Simply listing three to five things that went right every day can help you feel that you’re on the right track—and more importantly it can help you realize how valuable and great you really are.
Stop comparing yourself to others or how old you. Perhaps nothing can derail your self-esteem faster than comparing yourself to others or to the young version of yourself that no longer exists. Instead, adjust your self-image and self-esteem to match your current abilities and skills, not those of your past.
Enhancing your self-esteem certainly takes time and patience. However, if you make an effort to be fair and more realistic with yourself, you will be pleasantly surprised by the results.
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
―Marilyn Monroe