Experiencing bouts of low self-esteem is a part of the human experience. Certain rough patches here and there can leave you questioning your self-worth, but eventually, you’re able to pull yourself together and move on. With healthy self-esteem, it’s easier to feel better and work through negative feelings instead of letting them crumble your spirit.
Here are common signs of low self-esteem, and the ways to improve your self-esteem according to a professional life coach.
Difficulty prioritizing your feelings, wants, and needs
If you find yourself routinely placing other people’s priorities above yours, you might have low self-esteem that is turning you into a chronic people-pleaser. You might have convinced yourself that your needs don’t matter in the face of anyone else’s, or you might want to avoid challenging other people.
While caring for other people and being considerate of their feelings is a great quality, it’s important that it’s not at the cost of your happiness.
Apologizing too much
Do you use the word “sorry” a lot more than the average person? You might feel guilty for taking space and not having control over things that seem to be hindering or hurting others. There’s a high chance that you usually don’t have anything to apologize for—it’s just a habit that’s borne from negative thinking and self-doubt!
The negative perception of yourself
A negative self-perception can cause you to believe that others won’t accept you or like you as you are. It’s a common sign of low self-esteem and can stem from self-criticism or poor self-evaluation skills. You can also develop a negative self-perception because of a lack of stable support from your guardians and parental figures during your childhood.
How can you build your confidence?
It’s possible to work on your self-esteem and build it up over time. Put your mental and physical health first by prioritizing getting proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep, and making a list of things that you want to achieve so that you can turn your focus toward yourself.
Make sure that you pause and truly assess a question or demand before saying yes, and consider the implication that it has on you as well.
Improve your self-esteem with the help of a peak performance coach in Tampa
It can be difficult to improve your self-esteem without a proper support system and people to cheer for you as you make progress. Kathy McKnight is a certified life and business coach who uses her empathy and compassion to gain an understanding of the underlying causes of your low self-esteem, and helps you work through it by breaking through limiting mental barriers and developing a healthier thought process.
She also provides recovery coaching and family counseling services in Tampa.