How you feel about yourself is probably more important than you think. Do you really even know how you feel about yourself? Believe it or not, lack of self-esteem is a major problem in our society. There may be a lot of shiny red apples smiling on the outside, but inside many people do not like so much about themselves. It’s a shame really, because we all are valuable, lovable, and worthy- no matter what!

Why should you increase your self-esteem?

You simply feel better. It’s true. The more you like about yourself, the better you feel. Life becomes easier and lighter and you won’t go around thinking that everyone is out to get you or that no one likes you (which was probably never true in the first place).

You will be more stable. You won’t have to go around seeking affirmation or validation from others. You will know who you are at your core and be alright with it. You will not be as needy and not really care too much what others think of you! You will be able to stand firm and stable in your identity.

You will be more likeable. Have you ever noticed that confident people who seem to like themselves thrive in social circles? It’s because their self-esteem is quite high. They have taken the time to get to know themselves and they like what they see. They become more attractive to people in general.

You will smile more. Plain and simple, if you have better self-esteem, you will smile more and that is wonderful news!

Today it is my pleasure to share with you 5 powerful ways that you can increase your self-esteem.

1. Stop your negative thoughts. Do you know that you are probably your own worst critic? Yes, if you have low self-esteem, it is most likely because you have been listening to your own inner critic more than necessary. Do you hear yourself think and say things like “I am failing at life. No one likes me. I keep messing up. I never do anything right?” It’s time to stop the negative thoughts. You have to put your foot down and declare that you are so much more than that. You are not your past and you have so much potential. Change those negative thoughts to positive thoughts one at a time and in doing so, you will increase your self-esteem.

2. Do what you love. Are you hitting the grind so hard all the time and forgetting to take time to do what you love? If you only engage in tasks that you don’t really care for, it is easy to let it affect your frame of mind. You won’t really care about yourself. What is it that you love to do? Do you love to go walking in nature? Sing karaoke? Spend time with family? As you participate in activities that you love, you will automatically begin to think and feel more positive about you, others, and life.

3. Make a list of your positive qualities. On those days when you are feeling down and tempted to have a pity party, make a list of all of the things that you like about yourself. Try not to think in terms of “all” or “nothing”. You do not have all bad qualities and you probably don’t have all good qualities. It’s not “all” or “nothing”. Write down your good qualities. Are you kind to others? Are you good at your job? Do you take great care of your children? Are you honest? Write down the positive qualities and feel great about them! This will help you to stay focused on the good.

4. Be nice to others. I am sure you have done something nice for someone before and just felt wonderful inside. Acts of charity help increase self-esteem. It takes being self-less to serve and give others, which is honorable. Do what you can to be nice to others and as you do so, you will feel better about yourself!

5. Don’t compare yourself to others. You are uniquely you, so do your best not to compare yourself to others. If you do, you usually end up feeling like you fall short. Focus on your positive qualities and if you are not happy with an area of your life, do what you can to change it. Understand that your path and others’ paths are different and if you compare yourself to them, you set yourself up for disappointment.

You can increase your self-esteem if you really take heart these tips and continue to challenge yourself to grow. If you need help, there are plenty of supportive people willing to help you. All you have to do is ask!