Posted by Natalie Reid on Tue, Dec 02, 2008 @ 04:28 PM
(by request)
Self esteem is about love - love you have for yourself, based on your deeds and accomplishments. If your self esteem needs a boost, you might want to make a list of what you have achieved in your life. Don't think about times when you've failed - failures only mean you didn't succeed at some particular task ... they don't mean you ARE a failure. Focus instead on those areas where you have completed tasks, where you were able to pull it off, when you did what you wanted to do.
Although you might be at a low point today, you have succeeded at something before. Start with the basics. Did you make your bed this morning? Put that down. Have you ever taken any classes, or graduated from school? Put that down. Have you ever learned how to make a decent cup of coffee or boil an egg? Do you smile at strangers? Are you kind to animals?
If you feel you are starting from scratch, recognize it's probably not entirely true. Feelings are not the same as facts. Stick to the facts and list everything you can think of, everything you've done recently or a while ago. Write as many tasks and undertakings you can think of. When you've finished writing read the list aloud to yourself. If you're still having trouble appreciating your own successes, pretend you are thinking about someone else - instead of saying I did this, say "he" or "she." Read the list, recognize you have value and own it!