These Are the Signs of Low Self-Esteem

Lack of personal worth and value can have a serious negative impact on a person's life and wellness.

Let's take five minutes to see this week in a new light. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind Common Signs of Low Self-Esteem   Our self-esteem refers to the way we perceive and value ourselves, but it's not just limited to whether we "like" who we are. It impacts whether we believe in ourselves enough to accomplish our goals, whether we are worthy of love and grace, and how we perceive our own thoughts, feelings, opinions, interests, and goals.   Lack of personal worth and value can have a serious negative impact on a person's life and wellness. — KENDRA CHERRY, MS   Why We Should Foster Good Self-Esteem Because it plays such a vital role in the way we navigate life, having low self-esteem can spiral into a serious issue. It can lead to poor choices, cause us to self-isolate, affect our motivation levels, and impact our most important relationships. Poor self-esteem can even make us more susceptible to mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Signs of Poor Self-Esteem We talk about "poor self-esteem," but how does it manifest? Here are a few signs: Not having self-trust or confidence in your decisions Feeling powerless in your life Comparing yourself to others and feeling inferior Inability to voice your needs Second-guessing or overthinking your decisions or actions Struggling to accept positive feedback Speaking or thinking negative thoughts about yourself How to Feel Better About Ourselves Changing how we view ourselves takes deliberate effort and time. You can begin by taking note of negative thought patterns and stopping them in their tracks. Go one step further by challenging these thoughts and—out loud—replace them with something positive about yourself.   Practice self-love by trusting your decision making, forgiving past mistakes or failures, and accepting who you are today. That doesn't mean neglecting goals, but it does mean recognizing you're worthy of love as you are today.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body  This week, take 15 minutes to assess your current list of obligations and determine where you might be able to cut back to regain some of your time. In addition, create a bedtime routine you look forward to and make it a goal to go to bed to one hour earlier. Try this for one or two weeks and take note of how you feel. If you're feeling unsure of how to boost your self-esteem, consider "The Self-Love Workbook" from Shainna Ali, PhD. This prompt-based journal offers a guide to improved self-esteem by recognizing our own worth and finding genuine happiness. If you're struggling, speaking with a therapist can help you change negative thought patterns and foster confidence. You may also want to consider online therapy, which can sometimes be more convenient and more affordable.   This Week on The Verywell Mind Podcast   On this week's episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, I talk with Nikki Sixx, a musician from the rock band Motley Crue, about how to overcome a rough past.   Tune in—on Tuesday this week—to hear his story.   Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Read These Next What Causes Shame? READ NOW 14 Signs of Self-Hatred and What You Can Do About It READ NOW 6 Ways to Build Your Self-Confidence  READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy