How to Overcome Low Self-Esteem? - Best Ways to Improve

What is Self-Esteem?

To understand how to overcome low self-esteem, it’s important first to understand what self-esteem is.
Self-esteem is a person’s overall sense of self-worth. It includes aspects such as your sense of identity, feelings of competence, self-confidence, and belonging. More than simply liking yourself, self-esteem involves believing that you deserve love and valuing your thoughts, opinions, feelings, interests, and goals.

Self-esteem affects not only how you feel about and treat yourself, but also how you allow others to treat you. It can influence your motivation to pursue goals and your ability to build healthy, supportive relationships.

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What is Low Self-Esteem?

To understand how to overcome low self-esteem, you will be required to identify it. Low self-esteem can be characterised by feelings of being unworthy, incompetent, inadequate, unacceptable, or unlovable. It is possible to get caught up in a lonely, vicious circle if you have negative, self-critical thoughts in your head. This can affect your behaviour and your life choices. A low sense of self-worth can also negatively affect one's mental health, causing stress, depression, and eating disorders. However, it is possible to boost your self-esteem, and there are many ways to overcome low self-esteem.

So, how to overcome low self-esteem? Let's look at some of the ways to overcome low self-esteem:

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How To Overcome Low Self-Esteem: Be Emotionally Aware

The next time you are unsure or doubtful of yourself because of low self-esteem or confidence, actively recognise what it is you're feeling. You can then choose a healthier response rather than dwelling on it and allowing it to consume you. Spend some time each day thinking about things that are positive and hopeful. Take note of the small things you excel at and allow yourself to be proud of them. Consider times in the past when you overcame adversity and remind yourself that, even if you aren't feeling your best right now, you have the ability and strength to get through it. This is one of the points on how to overcome low self esteem.

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How To Overcome Low Self-Esteem: Keep Track of Your Goals

As a student, you must be aware of your goals. This will allow you to track your progress. Your goals should be flexible and realistic. If you set unrealistic goals, you are unlikely to achieve them, which can make you feel defeated and will not let you know how to overcome your low self esteem. As a result, when setting your goals, keep your expectations and timelines in mind. When tracking your goals, it is always a good idea to look back at where you started to appreciate the progress that you have made. Furthermore, you may need to change your goals and timelines along the way to accommodate changes in your situation.

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How To Overcome Low Self-Esteem: Know Yourself

Everyone has their own set of skills and preferences. Spend some time exploring your talents, skills and preferences. When you pursue a career based on your strengths, you will feel so much better about yourself. Choose extracurricular activities that will help you develop your skills. Having a fun routine outside of school or college will help you stay refreshed, increase your focus, keep you organised, and boost your productivity. You must have a clear understanding of who you are and what you stand for. This is one of the ways to overcome low self-esteem.

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How To Overcome Low Self-Esteem: Learn New Skills

If your beliefs about yourself are correct, and you are concerned that you have low self-esteem because you are not good enough, it is time to learn new skills and ways to overcome low self-esteem. Interventions to get rid of low self-esteem will consist of making positive changes. Isn't life better when you're constantly striving to better yourself? Everyone needs a creative outlet; art, music, dance, games, cooking, painting, designing - all you have to do is take the first step, which can be joining a class or searching YouTube for tutorials. All of the information you require is available; all you have to do is access it.

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How To Overcome Low Self-Esteem: Be Generous

Sure, focusing on your own needs and treating yourself once in a while is good for your mental health, but it shouldn't stop there. Giving back to the world, assisting others with their life challenges, and seeing the smile you can potentially bring to someone else's face is an indescribable feeling. Giving is one of the most effective ways to boost one's self-esteem. Tutor a classmate, assist in a neighbourhood cleanup or run for a good cause. Help out around the house or at school. Make being kind and fair a habit. Do things that will make you proud of the person you are. It is one of the ways to overcome low self-esteem, and your self-esteem will increase when you do things that make a difference (even if it is a small one).

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How To Overcome Low Self-Esteem: Practice Mindfulness

A constant sense of stress is one of the key factors that can contribute to low self-esteem. That’s why learning how to relax is so important. When you’re stressed, negative thoughts tend to take over, causing you to focus on your flaws instead of your strengths. One effective way to combat low self-esteem is by practising relaxation techniques such as meditation. Meditation involves letting go of racing thoughts and recognizing that your beliefs, emotions, and worries are temporary, not permanent. Each day, take a few moments to be still, focus on your breathing, and imagine your worries drifting away like clouds. This simple practice can be a powerful step toward building healthier self-esteem.

Self-esteem is essential for achieving goals, developing healthy relationships, and feeling good about yourself. While everyone experiences moments of self-doubt, consistently low self-esteem can interfere with your happiness and even increase your risk of mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

So, if the question ever arises — how can I overcome low self-esteem? — Remember that there are many practical strategies available. With time, effort, and a shift in perspective, you can learn to appreciate yourself better and see yourself more clearly for who you truly are.

Author- The author of this article is Yashodhra Arora, who is a Counselling Psychologist, with extensive experience in Career Counselling for high school students.