International Boost Self-Esteem Month

International Boost Self-Esteem Day!

International Boost Self-Esteem Month is observed in February of each year. Boosting one’s self-esteem is great for fighting depression and anxiety and is good for overall mental wellness. According to Oprah Winfrey, “Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgment of others.”

International Boost Self-Esteem Month is dedicated to the improvement of self-esteem among people of all cultures, race, ethnicities, age groups and social status. Self-esteem, simply put, is how you feel about yourself. And while self-esteem begins to develop in early childhood, it is not set in stone. In fact, self-esteem is ever-changing throughout life. There may be times when self-esteem is at an all time high, and others when it has taken an undesirable dip, perhaps due to a stressful life event or mental health struggle, like clinical depression. Everyone has the power to develop their self-esteem, and the benefits are significant.

Struggles with Self-Esteem

As you enter the international boost your self-esteem month, you will realize that many people struggle with low self-esteem and that many of them can benefit from some boosting. Although it is a complex issue, it is not set in stone. Developing it is a process. In the digital age, where instant self-gratification and the perception of perfection are required everywhere, self-esteem is dropping. In turn, this negatively affects mental health.

A healthy lifestyle starts with a healthy sense of self-worth. It can also be helpful for you to fight depression and anxiety by boosting your self-confidence. Taking care of your mental health is important for your overall mental wellness.

What Is Self-Esteem? Learn More on International Boost Self-Esteem Day

To put it simply, self-esteem is how much you like yourself or appreciate yourself regardless of circumstances. It’s based on your opinions and beliefs about yourself, which can be hard to change. It is more about accepting yourself and knowing your worth, and self-worth is a key factor in having higher self-esteem. It is a positive yet fragile evaluation about yourself that often bounces up and down according to your latest successes or failures in life.

Self-worth realizes that you are more than what others perceive you to be. It is a deep recognition of your value, love, and necessity in this life. That your value is beyond comprehension. Although you might find it difficult to feel confident about yourself in certain situations in your life, improving your relationship with yourself is important to build your self-worth.

The Pyramid of Self-Esteem – International Boost Self-Esteem Day Guide

1. Self-worth

It’s about loving and valuing yourself. This includes your ability to bounce back at life even if something negative is thrown in your way.

2. Self-efficacy

The ability to control your thoughts, actions, feelings, and the belief in oneself and control over one’s thoughts, activities, and emotions. Building self-esteem relies heavily on this ability. You will deal with anxiety, depression, and stress better if your self-efficacy is aligned with yourself.

3. Self-agency

It is more about having a positive mindset about life and that you are in control of the things that happen in your life.

Only when all three are equally weighed will you feel robust in your self-esteem.

Seven Ways To Boost Your Self-Esteem

1. Stop Comparing And Criticizing Yourself

The first step towards achieving higher self-esteem is accepting yourself for who you are. And it starts when you stop comparing yourself with others and start lifting yourself.

You can begin this self-love journey by asking yourself why others’ opinions matter to you. When you get the answer to that question, start working on it by limiting your exposure to the things that trigger you or undermine your confidence.

A basic step would be to limit your social media exposure. You can also start your day with positive affirmations and mantras that motivate you.

2. Think Positively

Thinking positively or having a positive outlook toward yourself and your life is one of the best ways to feel confident. When you limit your negative thoughts, your mind will rejuvenate and contribute to your mental wellness.

Writing down positive things about yourself is also a good idea, such as being good at sports or saying nice things about yourself. Consider these things when you are feeling low. Remind yourself that there is plenty of good about you.

You can start your day with positive quotes and affirmations, which is a great way to lift your mood. Practicing meditation also helps a big deal when having a positive mindset. Remember, when your mind is at ease, you are more likely to be free of all negativity and toxins of life.

3. Start Accepting Compliments

Accept compliments you receive from others without questioning whether you’re worthy of them or not. Put aside your insecurities and start appreciating yourself more. Take baby steps by writing them down to look over whenever you feel low or have doubts about yourself. Your journey to gaining more self-confidence is made easier if you believe yourself to be worthy enough.

You can begin with three basic steps –

1. Celebrate your success more often.
2. Accept compliments and note them down to feel better about yourself.
3. Ask others what they like about you as people will see you differently from yourself.

4. Learn To Say NO

Saying yes or agreeing to everything irrespective of your comfort is not a good habit. Pausing and assessing the situation before saying yes gives you more control over yourself and a chance to ask yourself whether you want to do it or not.

You can start your journey by practicing the following:

• Practice Saying No More Often

It could help you be more assertive before taking up any decisions, as you can pause and think about how you feel regarding the situation.

• Give It Some Thought and Time
• Saying no could be a hard task for you if you’re not used to it. But with practice and time, you will feel it more liberating and good about having control over your own decisions.

5. Recognize Your Strengths

Self-confidence leads to self-esteem, which comes from knowing that you have the knack or the ability to succeed. Recognizing your strengths and passion is a key factor to building it.

You might lack the confidence to start something new. But you need to start to prove to yourself that you can do it. It’s a vicious cycle, but once you overcome it, you’ll get a boost to your higher self. The best approach to it will be breaking it down into achievable goals and doing it step by step.

6. Avoid Negative Self-Talk

Negative talks decrease motivation and increases helplessness. Critical inner dialogue often causes depression and other mental health struggles. Thus paying more attention to your self-talk or internal dialogue is important for your confidence boost. If you find yourself engaged in more negative self-talk, you can shift your inner dialogue to a more positive one. You will end up benefiting from it both mentally and physically.

7. Prioritize Your Health and Exercise

Prioritizing your health and exercise that makes your body feel good is another way to boost your self-worth. Practicing yoga, meditation, jogging, dancing, or any movement that feels good for your body, even in small amounts, and makes you feel connected to your mind is a good way to boost your self-esteem.

Exercise releases endorphins and serotonin in your brain to help you feel calmer and more relaxed. It also allows you to feel more confident and make better decisions.

Summing It Up on International Boost Self-Esteem Day

Thus, to sum up, having higher self-esteem and worth of yourself will not fix all of your problems, but it will help you sail smoothly through a life full of struggles and sufferings. It will give you the strength and courage to face hurdles in a better way and build your resilience to bounce back from failure without leaving you emotionally drained out.

(Image: Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash)