Overcoming feelings of lack of self-esteem can be a difficult thing to do. But if you can resolve the root cause of this issue, and take action towards improving your confidence and self-love, then you’re in for an exciting journey full of new opportunities, new relationships, and even updated versions of yourself!
Studies show that at least 85% or more of the world’s people suffer from some degree of lack of self-esteem. Although one might think that such challenges are only characteristic of the poor, uneducated, or lower socio-economic members of society, people from all walks of life can suffer situational or more widespread challenges with their levels of self-esteem.
Successful business people lack self-esteem in some areas of their lives. Perhaps they feel socially challenged or they have difficulty establishing close or intimate relationships. Perhaps they experience low self-esteem with regard to their physical appearance or their health. Perhaps they are not having any fun in their lives, maybe devoting too much attention to their work.
Many “successful” people are driven to succeed. They compensate for feeling deficient in other areas of their lives by working harder and finding a place they can excel through their work. This provides them with a new focus where they can win but it doesn’t fulfill their neglected needs in other areas like relationships, recreation, personal and spiritual development, health and appearance and their ability to lead balanced, fun, and fulfilling lives.
It’s not that there is something wrong with finding an occupational niche where one can be successful and feel good about oneself. However, many of those lacking self-esteem in other areas find themselves driven to accomplish, driven to prove their worth. Since business is an area where they can shine, they neglect other areas to focus excessively on business.
However, since their actions are built upon the erroneous belief that they are somehow not good enough, somehow defective or unworthy of being fully loved and accepted, there is little lasting satisfaction even in the arenas where they can excel. It’s as though they are climbing a ladder with the top of the ladder in the clouds.
They think that if they can just climb high enough, they will be successful. They will have proven their worth. They will find satisfaction, happiness, and fulfillment. However, as they climb higher and higher, they never seem to arrive. There are always new goals and objectives challenging them to prove their worth. The more they achieve, the more they have yet to go.
Try as they will, they never seem to fully measure up. Or, if they do, it is short-lived and fleeting at best. There is no arriving to the point where they find what they long for so badly — the peace of mind that comes from self-love and self-acceptance.
Because the foundation of their ladder is grounded on quicksand, they often find themselves sinking as rapidly as they climb. In fact, from their perspective, they will never reach the perfection they seek so badly. They will always find evidence to highlight their flaws and reinforce their fears of being unworthy, unlovable, defective in some way.
Ultimately, people with low self-esteem have a skewed outlook on themselves and their body. They don’t value their true worth, their achievements, or even the positive things others may say about them.
As a result of this skewed perception of themselves, they feel less confident and are more likely to pick on any perceived flaws in their appearance. But in reality, they are more than they think they are. They have value to offer the world, worth that only they can contribute to a specific situation, and a set of skills that potential employers and friends alike would love to see them draw upon.
The key to feeling good about yourself is accepting who you are. When you do this, you will be more at ease with your self-image and more confident in your ability to deal with the world around you.
The first step to feeling good about yourself is realizing that people are different and that’s OK. People have different body shapes, physical abilities, personality traits, and personalities. Everyone has something they’re good at and something they’re not so good at. Accepting your own strengths and weaknesses is a big step toward loving who you are.
Taking care of yourself is important if you want to feel good about yourself. You should eat a nutritious diet, get enough rest, and exercise regularly. Not only does this help keep your body healthy and fit, it also helps give you self-esteem by boosting your mood and helping you feel better about yourself physically.
Treat yourself. One of the best ways to improve your self-esteem is to treat yourself to something nice once in a while. Get a manicure and pedicure, buy that special outfit you’ve been wanting, or treat yourself to dinner at your favorite restaurant. Whatever it is that makes you feel good about yourself, do it!
Have a hobby. Hobbies are great for improving your self-esteem because they allow you to enter into an area that is strictly for fun. Take up a hobby like sewing or hiking or something else that’s just for enjoyment and doesn’t have any pressure associated with it. Don’t make hobbies competitive — focus on learning something new and having fun with it!
While social media may not contribute to low self-esteem in and of itself, it’s important for users to be aware of how their social media usage habits may be affecting their mental state. If you feel yourself comparing your life to the lives of others on a regular basis, consider taking some time off from social media sites. Spending less time on these platforms will give you more opportunity to cultivate deeper relationships with the people in your life and think more positively about yourself.
If you’re struggling with self-esteem, then hopefully we’ve provided some valuable information that can help you to begin your journey towards a healthier self-image.