Steps to Restoring Self-Esteem

Some people know their worth, and others don't. Blame it on that bully in school who seems to relish picking on you, or getting passed the shy gene from mom or dad, but some people just unjustly suffer from a major problem: low self-esteem. A person's self-esteem is, in part, dependent upon how others view the individual.

Defining Self-Esteem

According to PsychCentral, self-esteem is defined as the acceptance of and respect for the confidence and satisfaction that we have in ourselves, and something based on our internal image. Low self-esteem is a negative self-view.

Low self-esteem can manifest in various mental conditions and mental states including lack of confidence, depression and insecurity about yourself and your intimate relationships. It is caused specifically by environmental factors such as perfectionism, verbal and/or physical abuse, being harshly criticized by others and neglect.

Tips to Building Self-Esteem

Since self-esteem is an essential part of human interaction and forming a healthy perception about life, maintaining self-esteem is vital to a fruitful, joyous life. The most effective way to increase your self-esteem involves unlearning negative thought patterns through cognitive behavioral therapy, according to MayoClinic.com.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of mental health counseling designed to help patients recognize inaccurate or negative thinking. This allows you to view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way.

Mental Changes: Reprogram Your Thinking Patterns

There are several ways you can mentally combat your battle with low self-esteem. These include:

• Changing your attitude about yourself and others;
• Putting the past behind you and moving forward;
• Replacing negative statements with hopeful ones; and
• Forgiving yourself.

Physical Changes: Actions

The old saying "actions speak louder than words" is especially true in strengthening your self-esteem. Combining positive self-talk with actions is most efficient to regaining security. These include:

• Taking responsibility for your life;
• Accomplishing something that will instill pride in yourself (i.e. working out, cooking a meal, writing a paper); and
• Working on your posture and practicing walking taller and sounding assertive,

Low self-esteem is a problem that people -- confident or insecure -- trip over at some points in their lives, but it's not something that you should tolerate living with if it becomes consuming. While, as ace writers claim, low self-esteem is commonly caused by negative criticism from others, using that to your advantage will help avert a situation that leads to compromised self-esteem. To quote NBC newscaster David Brinkley, "A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her."