Five Simple Steps to Improved Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is part of your total self-image. It’s the part that “likes” who you are and the things that you do. Some of us have a bloated sense of self-esteem, but many more of us lack self-esteem, even though it’s well deserved.
To help you develop more respect for yourself and to like yourself better, here are five simple steps to follow.
1. Do the right thing. You’re walking in a mall and you find a wallet filled with money. The right thing to do is to hand the wallet in to lost and found, or even call the police or hand it off to mall security.
Most of us know the right thing to do and by following those instincts, we come to like ourselves better because we have the right values.
2. Learn to say “I’m Sorry” How many of us view an apology as a sign of weakness. It’s anything but. When you hurt someone’s feelings, you are sorry. Yes, it takes courage to admit mistakes, but it makes you stronger.
3. Be a good listener. When a friend talks to you about a problem, most of the time they aren’t looking to you for a solution (unless you are the problem). Most of the time they need to sort through the problem and they just need a sympathetic ear. Listen to others, good times and bad, and they’ll listen to you.
4. Pat yourself on the back. When you achieve a goal or receive a compliment from your manager, take a few seconds to pat yourself on the back. False modesty is just that – false. So, when you hit a home run, enjoy the moment, congratulate yourself and store the feeling in your memory. You’ll need to pull it out the next time you de-rail. And you will. We all do.
5. Do unto others…This adage appears in the Bible, the Koran, the teachings of Buddha and Confucius. By treating others the way we would want to be treated is the ultimate litmus test. If you find yourself criticizing one of your people in front of her peers, stop and ask yourself if that’s the way you’d want to be treated.
Criticize softly; praise loudly – that’s how I’d like to be treated so I treat others that same way. It’s a moral compass that keeps us doing the “right thing” mentioned in point #1. It’s the source of courage to apologize; it’s the basis of being a good listener and it enables to enjoy your victories and overcome defeats.
This one, ancient proverb – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you – regardless of source, is your road map to improved self-esteem.
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I like #2 and #3 in particular, but the whole list is a good one. These are items people may not automatically associate with self-esteem, hence your article challenges us to expand our thinking and review fresh perspectives.