Do you feel that you don’t have what it takes to reach your goals? Do you fear that others will discover you as phoney? Do you feel bad about how you look? Are you afraid of making changes? Do you think you don’t deserve love or success?
Self-Esteem vs. Confidence: What’s the Difference?
While there’s a strong link between them, confidence and self-esteem are not the same thing. High confidence means you believe in yourself. It’s about trusting your ability to succeed in life. Your knowledge, your skills, and your experience all contribute to your confidence. Self-esteem is how much you appreciate and like yourself. It’s how you feel about yourself in general. Healthy self-esteem means having a positive self-perception and feeling good about yourself.
Why Do They Matter?
A lack of self-esteem or confidence can make life hard. It can mess with your relationships and hurt your growth, success, and happiness. Feeling bad about yourself can make you stressed, worried, and sad.Yet, healthy self-esteem and confidence can help you move beyond difficulties. When you believe in yourself, you can thrive at work. When you love yourself, you can have healthy relationships. In general, healthy self-esteem and confidence can improve your life and general well-being.
How to Build Self-Esteem and Have Healthy Confidence
No one was born confident. It’s a skill that you can practice. Here are five simple steps to greater self-esteem and confidence. You can make them your habits and practice them every day.
Use Positive Reframing to Fight Negative Thoughts
We are our worst critics sometimes. So, instead of being hard on yourself, try more positive phrases. Begin each day by saying good things about yourself, such as:I am lovable.I am capable of achieving my goals.I am strong and resilient.I am prepared to succeed.I am pleased with myself.We tend to think, feel, and behave in ways that match how we see ourselves. However, avoid saying things that are obviously not so, like’ I’m wealthy’, if you’re not. Your subconscious will not believe you.
Set Doable Goals
Don’t try to be perfect. Think of something you want to do, make small steps to do it, and feel good each time you finish a step.
Celebrate Your Wins
Do something that makes you proud every day. This can be little things you do each day, like making a healthy snack or sticking to your exercise plan. Then, pat yourself on the back. These small wins can boost confidence and self-worth.
Take Care of Yourself
Self-care is a big one for healthy self-esteem and confidence. Healthy food, regular sleep, exercise, and mindfulness can help you feel good. When your body feels good, your confidence shines through.