How to improve your self-esteem – and take better care of yourself! – GOOD SHAPE

Do you feel that you are sometimes too hard on yourself? Are you always criticizing yourself, or belittling your attitudes and achievements to others? Careful. Despite the fact that self-criticism is important, it may be disguising something that is not very nice: low self esteem.

“Self-esteem is related to the perception that the person has of himself and involves the self loveThe self-acceptance and self-image. It starts to be built in childhood and has to do with the way someone received and assimilated the looks directed at them, what they heard about them, the attention (or not) they received or if they were rejected”, all of this influences in how we will build our self-esteem in adulthood, explains psychologist Marilene Kehdi, clinical care specialist.

It’s no use. Everything that happens when we are children profoundly affects who we will be later on, as well as how we relate to and love each other. Therefore, throughout life, some situations can lower our self-esteem. Be the end of a love relationship or a resignation unexpected.

“Those with low self-esteem do not value themselves, do not have self-esteem, do not believe in their own potential. He is always self-deprecating and feeling inferior to everything and everyone. don’t take care of physical and mental health and, throughout life, presents several psychosomatic symptoms”, says the specialist. And all the pressure for a perfect life on social networks can further aggravate this situation, even evolving into anxiety, some types of phobias and depression.

But how to identify if I have low self-esteem?

Everyone deals with it in a different way. Some people, according to the psychologist, develop behaviors that are harmful to health, abuse alcohol and cigarettebinge eat (or develop eating disorders and eat very little).

Others may find it difficult to relate to others, in all aspects: professional, family, love. In addition to constantly avoiding facing problems and challenges. “The individual is less confident, does not feel able to do anything and is dominated by the feeling of inferiority”, says Marilene Kehdi.

The psychologist also adds that, because they feel incapable of loving themselves, the person with lowered self-esteem finds it extremely difficult to enter into a loving relationship. “In the professional aspect, this directly interferes with skills and performance. The results are lower than expected, many find it difficult to establish even a simple dialogue. Low self-esteem generates shyness.”

Tips to increase self-esteem

“It is fundamental to understand that it is possible, on a daily basis, to consolidate a good self-esteem and, for that, the self knowledge plays a fundamental role. Through it, you will recognize your strengths and weaknesses, your qualities, your limits and your limiting beliefs that demand transformation, as they act preventing you from believing in yourself and achieving a good quality of life”;
“Accept your limits and weaknesseslearn from your mistakes, because this is the only way to avoid repetitive cycles”;
“Stop being dependent on other people’s approvals: daily, practice self-acceptance and self-love, because by reestablishing and strengthening them, you will improve your performance in various aspects of life, loving, sexual, professional, among others”;
“Have goals, dreams and goals and strive to make them come true. Leaving the comfort zone is important”;
“Be open to new perspectives. Don’t generalize situations that didn’t work out. What passed, passed. Leave discouragement aside”;
“Don’t feed negative thoughts. Whenever they arise, shift your focus to thoughts that empower you”;
“Don’t compare yourself to anyone, we are unique and singular beings with our own characteristics. Each one with their own way of being”;
“Take care of your physical health and mental, play sports, be careful with yourself”;
“Stop considering yourself incapable, because you’re not. Remember that we only recognize our capacity when we put it to the test, practicing it.”