Since I am going to be busy at the Healthy Living Summit this whole weekend I thought this was a great time for a guest post from the wonderful, Kirsca Te. Oh, and be sure to follow me on Twitter where you can get updates on all the fun things going on at the health and blogging summit.
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Sometimes the way you see yourself isn’t the way others see you – not even close. If you were to ask a close friend or family member about all of your positive and negative personality traits or characteristics, you may be surprised by the list they come up withp. Many people struggling with low self-esteem don’t even know how to see themselves in a positive light. Fortunately, there are some ways to turn that around.
Here are 10 ways to see yourself in a better light:
1. Make a list. Make a list of all the things you do well and are confident doing. Read this list often, especially during times when self-doubt settles in or you find you’re second-guessing yourself. Keep adding to this list as you see fit so you can reflect upon all of the positive things in your life.
2. Remind yourself what you are grateful for. Keeping a gratitude journal or simply writing down five or six things you are grateful for every day can help you shift from a negative to a positive state of mind. Get into the habit of writing in this journal often and keeping it up to date.
3. Smile often. Walk tall, with your head up, and smile! Smile often, even if you’re alone. Just the simple act of smiling can change your mood and help you see yourself in a more positive light.
4. Only say {and think} nice things about your body. If you have a poor body image coupled with low self-esteem, it can be very difficult to appreciate your body and like what you see in the mirror. Turn that around by only saying nice things about your body and being grateful for what it enables you to do.
5. Listen to uplifting music. Set the tone for the day by listening to uplifting or even spiritual music. Anything that makes you feel relaxed and more in tune with yourself will help you become more peaceful and also help you appreciate yourself, and the world around you.
6. Tell someone what you love about yourself. Ask a close friend or confidant to help you with this process of appreciating yourself more. Tell him or her a few things that you most love about yourself. What have you done that you’re proud of? What features or characteristics do you most like about yourself?
7. Nourish your body with healthy foods. Treat your body right and you’ll appreciate yourself more. Make sure you’re eating healthy, well-balanced meals each day, drinking water regularly, and eating a variety of fresh foods. Practicing mindful eating will help you tune in to what your body needs and will also help you be more satisfied with each meal. Your body and mind will thank you!
8. Meditate often. Spending time in silence and just being still can help you feel more grounded and see yourself more objectively. Sometimes it’s very easy to get caught up in daily tasks that you don’t even have a chance to reflect and relax. Practice meditation or yoga so that you can enjoy some peace within.
9. Laugh. Laughing releases chemicals that put you in a happier state of mind and can also help you take life less seriously. Laughing is great for stress relief and may be just what you need to get out of a rut or change your mood.
10. Give yourself permission. Give yourself permission to enjoy life, to laugh hard, to cry when you need to, or just to sleep in once in a while. Let go of rules that don’t serve you and make sure you’re taking care of you first. Becoming more self-reliant and trusting yourself more can help you see yourself from a better perspective and with regular practice, will eventually help to improve your self-esteem.
Krisca Te works with Open Colleges, the leading provider of TAFE courses equivalent and counselling courses in Australia. When not working, she enjoys spending her day with her baby boy.
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