Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough, attractive enough, or smart enough?
Low self-esteem, self-critical thoughts, and negative beliefs about yourself are often closely connected.
When your self-esteem is low, it can feel scary to show your true self. You may find yourself seeking approval from others rather than trusting that you’re good enough just as you are.
Low self-esteem can also make you more self-conscious. You might worry about what others think, try too hard to be liked, or feel the need to please everyone around you.
It’s easy to put on a mask and act the way you think others expect you to. Many people also struggle with thoughts like, “If people really knew me, they wouldn’t like me.”
The Difference Between Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence
Self-esteem and self-confidence are related, but they’re not the same. Self-confidence is about believing in your ability to succeed in specific situations or tasks. Self-esteem is broader and reflects your overall sense of worth as a person, regardless of achievements.
For instance, someone might feel confident in their day-to-day work because they’re familiar with the tasks, but still feel nervous or insecure about giving a wedding speech.
Start Building Your Self-Esteem?
Mindfit Helps You Get Started. Download and Try for Free Today >
Low self-esteem can make it hard to accept praise.
Do you find it difficult to celebrate when you’ve done something well? Do you focus more on what didn’t go perfectly?
- You may also interpret others’ reactions in the worst possible way.
- A single critical comment – or what you perceive as a judgmental look -can easily become the focus of your attention.
- Low self-esteem often stems from past experiences and how you’ve been treated in life.
Healthy Self-Esteem Means Valuing Yourself
Healthy self-esteem goes deeper than surface-level confidence. It’s about your inner dialogue – what you think and say to yourself. If you struggle with low self-esteem, you can work on changing the patterns of thinking and reacting that hold you back.
Example:
You make a mistake and feel embarrassed. Your inner critic tells you: “I’m so stupid. I always mess up. I’m a failure.” Instead of seeing it as a one-time mistake, you take it as proof of your shortcomings.
Over time, these thoughts shape your beliefs about yourself, turning into a narrative that feels like the truth.
5 Steps to Build Stronger Self-Esteem
You can train yourself to make space for more constructive thoughts and work on shifting your typical reaction patterns.
Here’s how:
Acknowledge that you have both strengths and weaknesses—and that’s okay.
Challenge Negative Beliefs
Ask yourself: “Do I really have a reason to think this way?” or “What would a friend say to me?”Take up more space and let people see the real you.
Don’t just do what you think others expect of you—trying to please everyone can lead to low self-esteem.Shift Your Perspective
Focus on situations where you’ve succeeded, helped someone, or received positive feedback. Reflecting on these moments can help you build a more positive view of yourself.Use Mindfit to Support Your Progress
Mindfit is designed to help you challenge self-critical thoughts and practice positive self-talk.
Download Mindfit and try it for free today >
