2 Tips That Will Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem

Lacking confidence can really slow down your life. You’ll find that you shy away from things far more than you should, and it could put a complete stop to your plans. You’re not confident enough to ask for a raise at work, you’re not confident enough to pursue the things you enjoy or want to learn, and you’re not confident enough to live a life that you find fulfilling. It’s difficult to live with low confidence, and it can make it even more difficult to regain it. You have to understand that gaining your confidence back can be difficult, but 

Finding the source

Sometimes there’s a direct cause for your low self-esteem. That’s not to say that identifying the cause will solve your problem, but it can help to give you a place to start. It might be factors that are out of your control that are causing it, it might be your relationships with other people – finding it can give you something to work towards. For example, if you find that you have insecurities that are bringing down your confidence – working on those insecurities can be a great solution to the problem.

How you work on those insecurities is important, as there are usually multiple solutions. If your insecurity is related to your appearance, the best course of action is often about mindset. Is acceptance the way to go, or is there something else you would like to do about it? As an example, many turn to cosmetic procedures like dermal fillers to give them further confidence, while others may strive to accept and embrace the changes they’re experiencing as they age. How you face it is up to you, everyone has a preference.

If your problem is coming from others, then the solution may be to either approach them over it or stop spending time with them. You don’t owe anyone your time, especially if they’re having a negative impact on your mental health. Make sure you’re not spending time with people who tear you down and seek out people who will lift you up.

Fake it until you make it

Even if you can’t find the source of your low self-esteem, there are still steps you can take to help you get it back. Low confidence is a state of mind and not a fact of how things are. Just because you’re feeling like you can’t do something, and you’re feeling inferior – it doesn’t mean that you should act like it. Faking confidence can help you to prove your thoughts and feelings wrong, and in doing so you’ll feel your confidence rising by itself.

It’s fine if that’s difficult for you, and it’s okay if you only fake it for a portion of each day. Baby steps can make it much more achievable for some, and there’s nothing wrong with going at your own pace – especially when confidence can be such a difficult uphill battle to reclaim. Everyone has a different pace, and it’s important that you don’t try to take on more than you can handle.