Self Esteem: The Highs, the Lows, and the Normal
Do you believe in yourself? Many people say that if they feel lukewarm about their self-esteem and confidence, then it means they’re in the normal range but need to give a bit more push.
However, a fully functional and healthy level of self-esteem is positive thoughts and feelings. The rest of your thought process is going to mix in a fair amount of cynicism and negativity.
So how can you tell how high or low your self esteem is? How do you know if your confidence and attitude reflect a normal level versus a problem?
Read our guide below to better understand the highs and lows and what to do about it.
Building Your Own Self Esteem
Building your own self-esteem is a process, and it can be challenging. It involves recognizing your personal strengths and weaknesses. High self-esteem is marked by feeling secure and confident in yourself and in your ability to make good decisions.
Low self-esteem is characterized by feeling inadequate, insecure, and uncertain about yourself and your choices. It is important to recognize that neither high nor low self-esteem is better than the other and that it is possible to find balance in the middle—a normal level of self-esteem.
Dealing With Low Self Esteem
When struggling with low self-esteem, it is important to remain positive. Start by being aware of what triggers the feelings of self-doubt and start to challenge these thoughts. Countering the negative beliefs allows you to start developing a more positive view of yourself.
It is important to reflect on the good qualities you have and use them to feel better about yourself. Spend time engaging in activities that you enjoy, and surround yourself with supportive people.
Identifying Signs of Dysfunctional Self Esteem
Eating disorders and body dysmorphia can be linked to signs of dysfunctional self esteem. These signs can include a preoccupation with society’s standards of beauty, or a constant preoccupation with one’s physical appearance or body image. For example, obsessively looking in the mirror to inspect certain parts of one’s body or always seeking validation from others about how they look.
Low self-esteem may also manifest in individual dieting and over-exercising to try to achieve an ideal physical appearance. Additionally, an individual may begin to display signs of severe “all or nothing” thinking, such as believing that they are either “uniquely special” or completely worthless.
Get Your Ultimate Guide to Self Esteem
Self esteem is an important foundation in our lives, it affects our personal and professional experiences and ultimately our life. Taking time to strengthen our own self-worth can allow us to reach more potential and face life with more optimism. It is necessary to not be complacent about our self esteem and to take steps to ensure that we stay positive and healthy.
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