Your self esteem is a reflection of your perceived value. If you do not have a positive self-image, your motivation to achieve great things diminishes.

When analyzing the driving factor behind your decisions, there is one common denominator that many people overlook: your self esteem. Your self esteem is a reflection of your perceived value. If you do not have a positive self-image, your motivation to achieve great things diminishes. Because of this, it is important to work on empowering yourself to better action your goals.

People suffering from low self esteem are probably wondering ‘where do I start?’ The key to improving your self esteem is to gradually take steps towards repairing a negative self-image. Over time, these seemingly small steps will become a habit and create greater self-worth.

5 Powerful Steps to Improve Your Self Esteem

1. Understand Where You Are.

The first step to improving your self esteem is to understand your current mentality. It takes courage to realize your negative thought patterns and honestly evaluate how you truly feel about yourself. Figure out what triggers your negative self-image so you can begin to change the narrative.

A great way to gauge your self-beliefs is through journaling.

You can write down your innermost thoughts and your entries will eventually reveal your current thought patterns. Journaling also helps you see the transition from your old mindset to a more positive outlook over time.

2. Change the Narrative.

You are either the captain or the captive of your thoughts.~ Denis Waitley, The Psychology of Winning

After you’ve determined what causes your negative thought patterns, the next step is changing the narrative. Because your perception determines your actions, the story you’ve been telling yourself has to change to encourage a more positive thought process.

A great way to reprogram your subconscious is through affirmations. Research indicates that repeatedly writing down positive personality traits even helps regulate depression.

If you suffer from lower self esteem, initially believing affirmations can be challenging. To see realistic changes, begin with affirmations like:

I am going to… and fill in the blank.

For instance, instead of saying I am a millionaire, saying: I am going to be successful in the near future better motivates you to follow through with a goal.

3. Stop Comparing Yourself To Others.

With millions of people regularly using social media, it can be easy to get caught up in comparison. Social comparison theory involves evaluating self-worth based on how one measures up to another.

While this can sometimes be seen as motivation to improve on minor insecurities, many cases have a negative impact. For instance, comparing yourself to a celebrity or someone with a large social media following can make you feel inferior and lead to self-destructive behaviors.

Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable.~ Denis Waitley

If you decide to use social media, instead of watching other profiles to bring yourself down, use their positive characteristics as motivation to improve yourself.

4. Learn To Accept Compliments.

How receptive are you to positive feedback? Your ability to accept compliments has a direct correlation to your self esteem. At times, this can stem from how much reassurance you received as a child.

To overcome negative self-image, you must make a habit of accepting compliments from people, even if it initially makes you uncomfortable. Eventually, you will repel fewer compliments and create a cycle of positive thought patterns that inspire better decisions worthy of more compliments.

5. Develop Your Gifts.

One of the greatest ways to improve your self esteem is by working on your talents. Most children have special skills, whether it’s sports, art, singing, or dancing. By working towards achieving your goals, you can focus on your positive aspects and use small triumphs to motivate you to accomplish greater goals, which causes even higher self esteem.

No matter where you are in life, it is important to embrace the positive characteristics you possess. Raising your self-image is a pivotal step in achieving your goals and dreams.

Once you begin building up your self esteem, there will be nothing you cannot accomplish.

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