4 Effective Ways To Boost Self-Esteem

Today, I want to look at some effective ways to boost self-esteem. This topic is not talked about enough and needs to be for the greater good of man (and woman) kind. One proverb comes to mind, but I’m going to adjust it slightly to fit in here. “As a [woman] thinks, so is [she].” Try to comprehend just how powerful our minds are and how much influence they have over how we feel about ourselves. Our self-esteem balances on some tricky shenanigans happening in our minds.

Yeah, it’s complex, but it is also fluid. This means that our thoughts, beliefs, and our behavior are all flexible and can change. This is such good news! Buckle up, my friend, let’s dig a little deeper into how to make some real progress with self-esteem.

Here are 4 simple and effective ways to boost self-esteem!

Change Your Mind

“I had to grow to love my body. I did not have a good self-image at first. Finally, it occurred to me, I’m either going to love me or hate me. And I chose to love myself. Then everything kind of sprung from there. Things that I thought weren’t attractive became sexy. Confidence makes you sexy.”  – Queen Latifah

Now, changing your mind might not be easy, but it is simple. The first step is awareness. We have to get real and raw with ourselves as we do with our best friends. No lies, pretense, excuses, or avoiding is allowed if you want results. All of that avoided and buried junk needs to surface.

Know that having fleeting thoughts isn’t what hurts you, it’s the thoughts that hang around and get tangled with your emotions and behavior. You know things like “You are never going to accomplish that” or  “You are so fat and ugly.” Get real with yourself here. You would never say these mean things to your best friend, sister, or mother, would you? Well, I wouldn’t. So why the f&*k do we think them or, God help us, say them to ourselves?

When you catch this self-doubting crap hanging around, call yourself out on it. Ask if it’s true. Ask for evidence. If you have none, reconsider your thoughts and beliefs. Face what is actually true. Build on that with everything you have. It also helps to reinforce new thoughts with intention and statements that make you feel good. How about this: “I have accomplished my goals in the past, so I know I can do it again” or “I am a beautiful, one-of-a-kind woman.” I could talk all day about this one thing, but let’s move on.

Work on Yourself  

“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary 

Once you are more in touch with where you are and where you want to go, you can begin to make some changes. Change can be anything that makes you happy and gives a sense of fulfillment. Simply getting control of your negative thoughts is a HUGE accomplishment! But don’t stop there! Work on your health, wealth, relationships, appearance, or anything that bothers you.

It’s time to say “yes” to yourself and make that appointment with a practitioner like Marler Campbell Dental Group to improve your smile. How about setting up a consult with the school you want to attend or the coach you want to work with? Any kind of growth, fix, or enhancement helps to boost self-esteem! 

Be Yourself and Do What Makes You Happy

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can spend your days shunning who you really are or you can simply be yourself. I’ve seen so many women cheat themselves out of happiness and good self-esteem because they wanted to fit in. Part of this need to please others goes back to ancient days when fitting into a tribe meant survival. We are wired this way, so no blaming here. It’s important to find our tribe, but, most importantly, we need to find and embrace ourselves.

Another part of this is doing what you love and following your passion. Make sure you’re not living for anyone else. Never stop learning and always pursue growth in areas that you value. These passions brighten your day just thinking about them.

Go Where You Want to Go

“To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Anderson

When you get out of your hometown and see more of the world, it fulfills a natural sense of curiosity. And, looking forward to exploring through travel is a fantastic way to boost mood, confidence, and self-esteem. Getting out of your comfort zone might feel scary at first, but it’s so worth it on the other side. Start with small trips and see how it affects you before, during, and after. Accomplishing this type of exploration feeds your belief in yourself and gets you closer to your goals.

If you want to boost self-esteem, bring your focus to YOU…the real YOU! Keep her close to your heart like a lover or best friend and rock her world with the best you have. This topic is important to me as a woman and a messenger who encourages women to love themselves. I am also interested in hearing your ideas about self-esteem in the comments. Be well, my friend!