How to Improve How to Improve Your Self-EsteemYour Self-Esteem

Self-esteem - Definition

• The word 'esteem' comes from a Latin word that means 'to estimate'.

• Self-esteem is how you estimate yourself.

Introduction• To evaluate your self-

esteem, you need to ask yourself certain questions:– Do I like myself? – Do I think I'm a good human

being? – Am I someone deserving of love? – Do I deserve happiness? – Do I feel deep down that I'm an

okay person?

Important

• People with low self-esteem find it hard to answer yes to these questions.

How can you improve your self-esteem?

• You can begin by accepting that you are certainly not alone. (Masses of people have this problem).

• Secondly, take on board the fact you are a wonderful, special person - and there is no one quite like you.

Self-esteem Strategies• Put behavior in perspective:

– It's not healthy to condemn ourselves because of one aspect of our behavior.

– Try not to believe that the whole of you is hopeless, unkind or a failure, when really it is just one part of your behavior that may - or may not - be these things.

• Halt destructive thoughts:– Many people with poor self-

esteem think they're not very important and their views carry no weight.

– If so, try to stop these destructive thoughts because if you go around believing them, you'll encourage other people to believe them too.

– Instead, start thinking of yourself as someone who has rights, opinions and ideas that are just as valid as anyone else's.

Self-esteem Strategies

• 10-minute technique:– People with poor self-esteem often

fail to give themselves enough time and space. So find 10 minutes every day to be alone, and to just sit and do nothing.

– During this 10 minutes, allow yourself to feel peaceful and happy. Enjoy this time. It is yours - and yours alone.

Self-esteem Strategies

• List 50 things you like about yourself:– If you're seriously lacking in self-

esteem this could take weeks, but persevere:

• You can write down your characteristics.

• You can include things about your looks.

• You can even write about the things you do.

– When you have reached your 50 good things, keep the list somewhere you can see it all the time.

Self-esteem Strategies

• Getting criticism:– Criticism is often unfair, but

some criticism is justified, and when we're sensible we can learn from it.

– If there are aspects to the criticism that are valid, begin by agreeing with those points:

• If parts are unclear, ask for clarification.

• If you realize you were wrong, say so and apologize.

– If criticism is wrong or unfair, smile and say: 'I'm afraid I don't agree with you.'

Self-esteem Strategies

Lico Reis Consultoria & Línguas

Prof. Roberto Lico Reis

www.licoreis.comlicoreis@licoreis.com

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