Dear Counselor, my teachers says I have low self-esteem. What is self-esteem and what can I do to boost my self-esteem?

Self-esteem is the value and respect you have for yourself and how you think others think of you. Your self-esteem affects how you think, act, behave, relate to other people and even affects your potential to be successful.

With a high or healthy self-esteem you will be confident, happy, highly motivated and have the right attitude to succeed.
Low self- esteem means poor confidence and that also causes negative thoughts about yourself which means that you are likely to give up easily rather than face challenges.

Below are some of the things you can do to boost your self-esteem:

• Think positive thoughts about yourself. Focus on your strengths and not your weaknesses.
• Value yourself, your ability and your contribution in the world because you are unique.
• Set yourself realistic goals that are not too high or too low and thereafter always strive to do better than your goals.
• Give yourself credit when you reach your goal and praise yourself when you have done well.
• Don’t compare yourself to others. Remember you are fine the way you are.
• Learn to be assertive. Express your thoughts, opinions, needs and feelings openly at the same time respecting those of others.
• Forget your past mistakes and focus on your successes encouraging yourself to greater achievements in the future.

2 Responses

• 
  Martin Okoed 28th May, 2009 at 5:39 AM

  Self esteem is how you feel about yourself – how you feel about who you are, the way you act, and how you look. In simple terms is a feeling of pride in yourself or the personal feelings or opinions of oneself.
  Now, when a person does not think too highly of one’s self, she or he is said to have low self-esteem.

  Reply
• 
  Bbuka Anthony 15th February, 2010 at 2:27 PM

  Self-esteem is how one feels about him/herself,value him/herself and belief in the self.
  It is the feeling one has about the ability to manage particular situations.
  When one has a positive self-esteem he/she will be able to come out boldly and move to perform one task or another.It may at times be a task that is requiring more strength than the one people think you have.
  You therefore need to have:
  1. Belief that you can manage.
  2. Act without fear.
  3. Dont fear to be laughed at.
  and always be bold to ask and speak your mind.
  I wish you well.

  Reply