Self-Esteem For Dummies
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Developing your self-esteem doesn’t necessarily have to take a long time. There are many fun and pleasurable things you can do to improve your opinion of yourself and enhance your outlook on life. Here are ten different things you can do easily and quickly to boost your sense of self-worth.

Become proficient at something you enjoy

Find an area that interests you, something you naturally excel in, and put your focus on learning everything you can about it. This venture takes some hard work and dedication, but it’s well worth the effort. You need a willingness to work at it and a determination to succeed.

You can gain expertise by reading books, interviewing people, and learning from websites and courses. You also need experience in the real world.

To become proficient quickly, you need to practice often. As you perform in your area, make adjustments and improvements to get even better. This increased competency will be a source of satisfaction and achievement for you.

Read websites, books, and articles that uplift you

If you have a habit of thinking poorly about yourself, you can lift your spirits by reading materials that make you look at the brighter side of life. You can improve your mood just by taking control of what you put before your eyes.

Reading uplifting material can give you inspiration to live a better life. Look for materials that emphasize self-improvement, motivation, and fun and interesting ways to raise your mood.

Review three things every evening that you did well that day

Ending the day with thoughts of what you did well helps build your self-respect. Set aside a few minutes to review the events of the day. Close your eyes and relax. In your mind’s eye, go through what happened. Begin with the morning, then move to the afternoon, and finish with the evening.

Observe the events that took place, the people who were in your life during the day, any decisions you made, and any successes that took place.

Be thankful for all the good things that happened and that you accomplished. Notice at least three things that were successful for you or that you did well that day. Be grateful for everything that you felt good about, big or small. You can also note the things you’d do differently next time.

Eliminate behaviors that waste your time

Do you spend a lot of time watching television? Playing video games? Surfing the Internet? All of these are time wasters that don’t add to your sense of self-esteem. Either stop doing them altogether or reduce the time you do them. Fill those hours with constructive, creative, and positive ways to spend your time.

Make a list of your accomplishments

Whenever your thoughts about yourself are low, making a list of your accomplishments can change your focus. Get more than one sheet of paper and a pen or pencil, or create a blank screen online. Set a timer for at least 15 minutes. Then start writing out all your achievements both as a youth and as an adult.

Include everything — big or small — that you can think of, not only what you’ve done for yourself, but also what you’ve done for your friends, family members, neighbors, and complete strangers.

After you make this list, read it over several times, give yourself a pat on the back, and allow the pride you take in carrying out all these accomplishments to sink in deeply.

Ask others to go out

Good friends like you for who you are and provide companionship. Having a fun time together can bond your friendship, so asking them out helps the relationship grow.

Offer to teach your skills to someone who wants to learn

When you teach others, your own self-confidence increases because you have the opportunity to expand your student’s knowledge and understanding of the topic. You can be a positive role model and teach your student not only what to do but also what to avoid.

Teaching someone interested in your skills means sharing your experiences and insights. Sharing what you’ve accomplished, as well as your mistakes and what you’ve learned from them, helps your student be aware of the challenges and how to build resilience.

Self-confidence is having the belief that you can accomplish something. If you have self-esteem, you respect yourself and believe you have worth, no matter what you accomplish. By both providing feedback to your student to gain further insight into developing specific skills as well as acknowledging your student’s achievements, you build your student’s self-confidence and self-esteem too.

Plan an exciting trip or escapade to do something fun

When you plan a trip, it’s for excitement, adventure, and fun. It’s something different to do, and just the planning gives you a sense of purpose.

Volunteer for an organization with a worthy cause

There’s nothing like helping others to make you feel good about yourself. Not only do you feel more connected to others and have pride in what you’re doing, but volunteering also offers you a chance to give back to your community.

When you’re considering where to volunteer, don’t limit yourself to just one organization or type of volunteer work. The smartest thing to do is to visit several organizations, learn about the opportunities that are available, and see whether you connect with the staff and other volunteers.

Also, your local newspaper may carry information about volunteer openings, and some communities have an organization dedicated just to providing volunteers to organizations. So take advantage of these if they’re available in your community.

You can find volunteer opportunities in a variety of organizations: Youth organizations; sports teams; after-school programs; historical places; national, state, county, and city parks; libraries; senior centers; service organizations such as the Lions Club or Rotary Club; and museums are just a few.

Once you find a volunteer position that is mutually beneficial, you can generally remain with it as long as you’d like. The advantages of volunteering are great, so if you have the time and inclination, do look into it.

Get started — it’s time for you to begin your new life!

Start implementing some of the easier suggestions today, and you’ll see small benefits start taking shape almost immediately. As you see these benefits increase, one after the other, you’ll continue to have a positive attitude that change is possible, and your self-esteem will improve all the time.

Don’t expect to make a complete change overnight though. Have some patience and realize that it takes time to be the person you desire to be. As you increase your self-esteem and self-confidence, you’ll experience exponential growth that will lead to great joy in your life. Carry on!

About This Article

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About the book authors:

S. Renee Smith is a renowned self-esteem and branding expert, speaker, author, and resource to the media. Her expertise in personal and professional development and ability to inspire others to make positive, permanent changes has made her a sought-after consultant and speaker to Fortune 500 corporations, universities, government and nonprofit agencies, and churches. Vivian Harte has taught assertiveness skills online to over 10,000 students worldwide. She has 14 years of experience teaching in the classroom at Pima Community College and the University of Phoenix. She also hosted her own radio and television shows for many years in Colorado Springs, Minneapolis, and Tucson.

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