How to Raise Self Esteem

Self esteem refers to the feelings, both positive and negative, we have about ourselves. These feelings are formed on the basis of the kind of life experiences we have had, the way we have been brought up, the family or strata of society that we belong to and also on the kind of company we move about in. Self esteem can be situational too, i.e., there are periods when we think or feel highly about ourselves and there are also times, when we think of ourselves as failures. People suffer from low self-esteem due to a variety of reasons, such as having faced any kind of physical or mental abuse as children, not receiving enough love and affection from parents, being constantly criticized while growing up, having unrealistic ambitions resulting in failures and being unemployed and unable to support the family as adults.

A person with low self esteem can never be successful in any sphere of life, be it professionally or personally. He fears criticism, is unable to take decisions independently, lacks confidence and social skills and is constantly engulfed in negative thoughts. Thus, in order to live a normal life and to be successful and happy, raising self esteem is of utmost importance. Here are some useful tips on how to raise self esteem.

Tips on How to Raise Self Esteem

• Inculcate positive thoughts, and leave all the negativity behind. Maintain a diary and write all the good things about yourself in it. Update the diary regularly, by adding all the things that you do in a day that you are proud of. It can be as simple as offering your seat to an old lady in a bus. Read this diary at times when you feel low, to perk yourself up.
• Do not compare yourself to anybody. You are an individual with your own unique strengths and weaknesses, so be content with what you are.
• Affirm yourself that you are a very important, unique, intelligent person, from time to time. Stand in front of the mirror at home and say loudly "I am a lovable person" or "I am successful". Paste positive quotes on the walls of your room too.
• Choose your friends carefully. Do not be around people who put you down or criticize you. Be friends with positive, happy people.
• Do some kind of social work. Teach at an orphanage or help at church - do things which bring a smile on some other person's face, and slowly you will feel worthy or valuable yourself.
• Set realistic goals in life and do not go after things that are unachievable. Recognize your strengths, qualities and capacity to work and accordingly, choose your goals.
• If you want to know how to raise self esteem and confidence, then it is suggested that you work hard, consistently, towards your chosen goal. This will help you to achieve small victories, thereby raising your self esteem and confidence in the process.
• Often times, it has been seen that children too lack confidence and suffer from low self esteem. So how to raise self esteem in children? One of the most effective ways to increase self esteem in kids is to give them full attention and love. Praising them, not comparing them with other children, involving them in extra curricular activities such as sports and letting them take their own decisions, once in a while, helps in building self esteem in children.

I hope these tips on how to raise self esteem will be beneficial for you. In order to have a high self esteem, it is very important that you take control of your life. Being responsible, independent, and taking one's own decisions in life, is the key to a higher self esteem and supreme confidence. All the best!