Center Pensées - French Center for Psychotherapy in Berlin
Self-esteem: tips to promote it
What opinion do you have of yourself? How do you perceive yourself? Have you ever wondered about this?
Whether at school or at work, in leisure time or in interpersonal relationships, a negative opinion of oneself and hence low self-esteem and the negative feelings that accompany it, can have strong repercussions in these different spheres of life, and in the long term it can also negatively influence mental health.
Self-esteem refers to the general opinion we have of ourselves, the way we judge ourselves, and the value we place on ourselves as a person. This value develops based on the judgments and opinions we have about ourselves and also based on social relationships and the way others view us, and what we believe they think of us. Also, repeated experiences in the physical and social environment will shape self-esteem. Thus internal sources and external sources will contribute to self-esteem.
➡ Here are some ways to promote positive self-esteem:
– good self-esteem requires good self-knowledge. Becoming aware of ourselves and the negative feelings that flood us – means paying particular attention to self-criticism. Indeed, we are often the first to judge ourselves negatively and these self-critical thoughts, which often do more harm than good, are not necessarily the truth about ourselves. Try to take a step back, highlight your strengths, your assets and your qualities and be aware that…
– … having weaknesses is human! Indeed, we all have our strengths and weaknesses. You can be a very good painter, and at the same time a poor cook. And no weakness fundamentally defines us. Perceiving one's imperfections and weaknesses, in addition to one's strengths, allows one to accept oneself without conditions and without distortions. In addition, getting into the habit of congratulating yourself and savoring each small and big daily victory means focusing on the positive aspects, and not just the negative ones, that you have within yourself and thereby promoting your self-esteem. .
– Set realistic expectations and goals. Indeed, setting the bar too high, setting objectives that are too high can, in the event of non-achievement or beyond the set deadline, lead to devaluation, demotivation, but also induce pressure and thus have harmful consequences.
– Surround yourself with significant people, who will help you see your resources, your values, your qualities but also make you feel good.
– finally, take care of yourself! Taking care of yourself, your body, through relaxation, sport and also nutrition, will allow you to feel better about yourself. So don’t hesitate to treat yourself to an hour of massage, a visit to the museum or even a yoga session.
So, to promote positive self-esteem it is important to try to keep a balanced view of yourself, to think about yourself and to surround yourself with positive people, this will promote your relational development but also your personal well-being.
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Article written by our psychologist Julie Le Pite.
Center Pensées - French Therapy Center in Berlin, Prenzlauer Berg
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