Low Self Esteem
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Learn More About Low Self Esteem
Low Self Esteem
How to spot it: your self-esteem can drop quickly or slowly drop over time, and you may not even notice it’s decline. Try to notice your thought patterns and watch out for any of these symptoms:
- Believing that others are better than you and struggling with your confidence
- Having difficulty expressing your needs
- Focusing on your weaknesses
- Frequently experiencing fear, self-doubt, and worry
- Having a negative outlook on life and feeling a lack of control
- An intense fear of failure
- Having trouble accepting positive feedback
- Having trouble saying no and setting boundaries
- You may put other people's needs before your own
Our
Top Tips
- Become aware of your thoughts: Negative thoughts can often slip into the background noise of our minds, though their impact can still be big. Start to identify
your negative thoughts that are impacting your self worth.
- Challenge your negative thoughts: Once you can see what your negative thoughts are, you can challenge them and replace them with more positive or realistic ones, e.g. “I’ll never be good enough” can become “I’m getting better and slowly improving”
- Use positive self-talk: You can intentionally speak words of kindness over yourself, try using positive affirmations to build yourself up
- Practice self-compassion: Try forgiving yourself for past mistakes to allow yourself to move forward.
- Focus on your strengths: Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but focusing on your strengths can improve your self-worth and encourage you to improve your weaknesses.
- Try talking to someone you love and trust about what it is you're worried about and try setting some goals, that are realistic to support your development in overcoming low self-esteem.
- Tell them you love them and the reasons why: People who
struggle with low self-esteem can struggle to see the good in themselves, by telling them you appreciate them and showing them their value can help them to see it.
- Share positive things with them: This can be a funny video, in inspirational message or a handwritten letter to help brighten their day
- Encourage self-care: This can be things like taking a walk, having a warm bath, a small spa day, anything that will help their mind and body to feel better
- Don’t dismiss their emotions: This can further strengthen their negative thoughts or make them feel small and unheard
- Don’t over simplify their experience: Saying things like “Just cheer up” or “Everyone feels this way sometimes” can make light of challenges they’re facing. It can come across as if their struggles are easy to overcome, which can make them feel misunderstood and isolated.
- Involve them in your activities: Low self esteem can be isolating but involving them in your plans can help them to feel wanted
- If needed, encourage professional help: low self-esteem can lead to other mental health problems such as anxiety or depression, so it’s important to catch it early.
How You Can Help Others
What Does The Bible Say?
Biblical take: The Bible emphasizes a balanced view of self-esteem, avoiding both arrogance and low self-worth. It teaches that our self-worth is rooted in God's love and our identity in Christ. Isaiah 43:4 says “because you are precious in my eyes and honoured, and I love you” and Philippians 4:13 reminds us that “I can do all things through him who strengthens me”. We are encouraged to find our identity in Christ and believe what he says about us. Additionally, having a healthy self-regard and treating yourself with respect, is essential for extending love to our neighbours as we are called to do in Mark 12:31 “Love your neighbour as yourself’ There is no commandment greater than this”
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Prayer: Jesus, thank you for making me in your image and thank you for the inherent value that this gives me. Help me to believe the truths you say about me so I may recognize the love and respect I deserve. Grant me the strength to trust in my own abilities and the confidence to move forward each day. Let your unfailing love and kindness towards me wash away my fears and insecurities. Amen