Everybody talks about self-esteem, but what does it really mean? Self-esteem is defined as how you view yourself and the value you give yourself in the world. Many things influence how we see ourselves, including our family and friends, our abilities, our physical appearance, our belief system, and our living situation. We can think highly of ourselves or poorly, and our relative disposition can affect every thing that we do. Someone with low self-esteem may always be worried about what others will think, and therefore, will influence the choices that they make. On the other hand, someone with a lot of self-confidence will be more likely to take chances and achieve more personally and professionally.

Nurture Your Self-Esteem

If you are feeling bad about yourself, here are some suggestions to bolster your self-esteem.

• Listen to your own thoughts. Do you put yourself down or call yourself names? If so, stop the negative self-talk and, instead, try thinking and saying positive affirmations.
• Practice clear communication. Say what you mean, even if others might disagree. But remember to respect others opinions as well.
• Don’t beat yourself up for making a mistake. We’re all fallible. Once you realize you’ve made a mistake, make amends, and then move on.
• Make a list of all your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem to you. Write them down and read them aloud to yourself. If you need help with this, ask your closest friends or family members what they like about you.
• Surround yourself with supportive and upbeat people. Positive relationships will reflect and reinforce your own positive self-image. Stay away from people who constantly criticize others.
• Be good to yourself get enough rest, recreation, and quiet time. This will allow you to stay energized and put your best foot forward when you need to.
• Set short-term and long-term goals for yourself at work and at home. Working towards achieving a goal will give you purpose, and help you feel proud once you’ve achieved the end result.
• Accept new challenges. This could include volunteering to help with the company’s holiday party, running a marathon, or opening up to your significant other about your true feelings. Risk-taking sometimes helps you to work through fears and self-limitations.
• Don’t neglect yourself physically. When you are eating healthy and working out, you are bound to feel better about yourself. If you don’t like the way you look, work on changing it through diet and exercise.

Remember, don’t sell yourself short. We all have positive attributes and something to give back to society. Work on finding what your life purpose is and striving to achieve it.