07:12
Faizan
In a world where "self-esteem" has become a catchphrase, it is often difficult to figure out how to actually improve your own self-respect. Building yourself into the type of person you would respect can be the key to retaining a strong self-concept.
Good Deeds
If you feel like a failure, there's nothing better than a good deed to make you feel like a success. Move your neighbor's newspaper onto her porch when you see it's going to rain, return a shopping cart that someone left in the parking lot to the store, offer to hold your friend's colicky baby for an hour so she can take a shower and rest, or bring a fruit salad to an elderly neighbor who you think could use some thoughtfulness and 20 minutes of company. If you have a unique talent, such as singing or working with young child, try to find volunteer opportunities that will allow you to use those talents to service your community.
Physical Vitality
You may be able to boost your self-esteem with physical activity, according to the Mayo Clinic article "Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity." If you think that low energy might be one of the culprits keeping you from feeling great, go for a run or spend an hour at the gym. Make sure to get plenty of sleep, and consider trying out an extreme sport in your free time, such as bungee jumping or parasailing. Doing so will give you a jolt of adrenaline that can carry you through tough times that could sabotage your self-esteem.
Knowledge and Mastery
Mastering a body of knowledge can also help you feel good about how far you have come. Learn how to do something that authentically interests you, whether it's cheese making, ice skating, ukelele playing or crafting. Alternatively, learn about a topic that interests you, whether it's practical or not. Study up on the French Revolution, bovine communication, black holes or irrational numbers. Just attaining mastery of these areas can help you view yourself with a new level of respect.
Appreciation for Self and Others
To feel self-respect, you'll need to recognize all of the things that you've done right, rather than focusing on the areas where you've failed. That might mean sitting down and making a list of your successes. If you find it difficult to appreciate your own accomplishments, try first appreciating the accomplishments of others. Developing such an appreciation can help you treat them with respect, which will make it easier for you, in turn, to respect yourself.
Good Deeds
If you feel like a failure, there's nothing better than a good deed to make you feel like a success. Move your neighbor's newspaper onto her porch when you see it's going to rain, return a shopping cart that someone left in the parking lot to the store, offer to hold your friend's colicky baby for an hour so she can take a shower and rest, or bring a fruit salad to an elderly neighbor who you think could use some thoughtfulness and 20 minutes of company. If you have a unique talent, such as singing or working with young child, try to find volunteer opportunities that will allow you to use those talents to service your community.
Physical Vitality
You may be able to boost your self-esteem with physical activity, according to the Mayo Clinic article "Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity." If you think that low energy might be one of the culprits keeping you from feeling great, go for a run or spend an hour at the gym. Make sure to get plenty of sleep, and consider trying out an extreme sport in your free time, such as bungee jumping or parasailing. Doing so will give you a jolt of adrenaline that can carry you through tough times that could sabotage your self-esteem.
Knowledge and Mastery
Mastering a body of knowledge can also help you feel good about how far you have come. Learn how to do something that authentically interests you, whether it's cheese making, ice skating, ukelele playing or crafting. Alternatively, learn about a topic that interests you, whether it's practical or not. Study up on the French Revolution, bovine communication, black holes or irrational numbers. Just attaining mastery of these areas can help you view yourself with a new level of respect.
Appreciation for Self and Others
To feel self-respect, you'll need to recognize all of the things that you've done right, rather than focusing on the areas where you've failed. That might mean sitting down and making a list of your successes. If you find it difficult to appreciate your own accomplishments, try first appreciating the accomplishments of others. Developing such an appreciation can help you treat them with respect, which will make it easier for you, in turn, to respect yourself.
Posted in: Stress & Depression
