Win The Battle

How to Battle Low Self-Esteem Do you focus on your flaws and failures, rather than your positive attributes and accomplishments? Low self-esteem can result in a distorted self-image that can feed depression. Most people feel bad about themselves from time to time. Temporary feelings of low self-esteem may be triggered by being treated poorly by someone else recently or in the past, or by a person's own judgments of him or herself. Low self-esteem is a constant companion for too many people, especially those who experience depression. If you go through life feeling bad about yourself needlessly, low self-esteem keeps you from enjoying life, doing the things you want to do, and working toward personal goals. To improve your self-image, try making lists, rereading them often, and rewriting them from time to time. The process will help you to feel better about yourself. If you have a journal, you can write your lists there. If you don't, any piece of paper will do. Make a list of : - At least 5 of your strengths, for example, persistence, courage, friendliness, creativity - At least 5 things you admire about yourself, for example, the way you have raised your children, your good relationship with someone in your family, or your spirituality - The 5 greatest achievements in your life so far, like recovering from a serious illness, graduating from high school, or learning to use a computer - At least 20 other accomplishments — they can be as simple as learning to tie your shoes, to getting an advanced college degree - 10 ways you can "treat" or reward yourself that don't include food and that don't cost anything, such as walking in woods, window-shopping, or chatting with a friend - 10 things you can do to make yourself laugh - 10 things you could do to help someone else - Things that you do that make you feel good about yourself Source: The National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH does not recommend or endorse any company advertised on this site.