| When people talk about improving self-esteem, | | | | 5. Make it a point to improve yourself daily. |
| they usually mean self-confidence. While the | | | | Whatever you do, say or think should be |
| two are related, they are not exactly the | | | | geared towards improving your self-esteem. |
| same. Self-esteem is all about self-worth and | | | | Improve the way you dress, walk or talk. Take |
| self-value. It's how we see ourselves in | | | | further studies to hone your knowledge and |
| relation to other people and our environment. | | | | skills, learn a new language, take up cooking |
| It has nothing to do with vanity or conceit. | | | | classes, start a new hobby. Being able to |
| | | | immerse yourself in worthwhile activity |
| The lack of self-esteem is a major problem | | | | creates a feeling of capability and opens new |
| and has a leveling quality. Rich and poor | | | | opportunities for growth. |
| alike are afflicted by it and people decide | | | | |
| between happiness and unhappiness because of | | | | 6. Keep away from people who shoot you down |
| it. If self-esteem is an area in your life | | | | with snide remarks and unfair criticisms. |
| where you need improvement, here are some | | | | Associate with positive people. There will |
| tips you can use to build your self-value and | | | | always be grouches and negativists who will |
| improve the way you see yourself: | | | | think nothing about giving careless opinions |
| | | | that make other people think unworthy of |
| 1. Know what you want. You can't assess where | | | | praise or recognition. If you find people who |
| you are in your journey if you have no idea | | | | make it their life mission to belittle other |
| what you want to have in life. You also will | | | | people's achievements, keep your distance. |
| not be able to judge whether you've been | | | | They will not contribute anything good to |
| doing a good job or just so-so. | | | | your life. |
| | | | |
| Set goals that are clear and doable. Make | | | | 7. Be yourself. You'll never improve your |
| sure that these are things you want to do and | | | | self-esteem if you try to live life and find |
| attain, and not things your parents, family, | | | | acceptance as a projected mask of yourself. |
| friends and colleagues insist you 'should' | | | | Pretending to be someone you're not will fail |
| have. Is it just the latest trends that | | | | to affirm your uniqueness and potential and |
| dictate your aspirations? If so, you will | | | | will only make you sadder about your |
| never catch up and be satisfied. You can only | | | | circumstance. You can't make everyone love |
| claim your goals as your own if you recognize | | | | you, so don't try. |
| them as things you truly, genuinely want in | | | | |
| your life. | | | | 8. Make other people feel good about |
| | | | themselves. People tend to like you more if |
| 2. Assess your good points. List the things | | | | you're honest and pleasant. Polish your |
| that you do well and the things that make you | | | | listening skills and body language to make |
| a good person. It could be anything | | | | people feel comfortable. Respond to them |
| intelligence, a good sense of humor, good | | | | visibly and with interest. |
| analytical ability, compassion, creativity, | | | | |
| ability to spot trends, people skills, things | | | | You might think that this is the opposite of |
| that you have and recognize as an integral | | | | what you want to do to improve your |
| part of your personality and talents. No | | | | self-esteem but by actually focusing your |
| matter how low you feel in your life, these | | | | attention on other people, you create an aura |
| are qualities that you never lose. | | | | of likeability that they gravitate towards, |
| | | | making them choose you over others. And when |
| 3. Recognize your liabilities. Improving your | | | | you are singled out as a good person who's |
| self-esteem does not mean ignoring the things | | | | terrific to be with, your self-esteem grows. |
| that make you human. To be human is to make | | | | |
| mistakes, just do not let them keep you | | | | 9. You have the right to make mistakes. |
| stuck. List your negative traits and label | | | | Nobody's perfect, regardless of what you've |
| them as areas in your life you need to work | | | | heard or what popular media wants you to |
| on, areas for improvement. Treating them as | | | | believe. By accepting that you will make |
| downright liabilities will make them seem an | | | | mistakes and that it's all right, you learn |
| unalterable feature of your life and create a | | | | to recognize that it is a necessary process |
| feeling that you are helpless against them. | | | | you need to go through in order for you to |
| | | | improve yourself. |
| 4. Build slowly but surely. Take little steps | | | | |
| to improve your self-esteem. Big successes | | | | 10. Recognize that you are a unique |
| build upon small successes. You can't decide | | | | individual with a different set of talents |
| to change your outlook drastically today and | | | | and that you have something to contribute. |
| expect extreme results in the morning. By | | | | You may not be a big celebrity like Justin |
| taking it slowly and performing well during | | | | Timberlake, as rich as Bill Gates or as |
| each turn, you gradually build a solid base | | | | powerful as Oprah Winfrey, but your |
| of achievements that will boost your | | | | individuality makes you as important as they |
| self-esteem more effectively. | | | | are, with as much right to exist and make |
| | | | something of yourself. |