by Paul Joseph
Co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel
If you have ever experienced a knock to your self-esteem, you’ll know the feeling of losing faith in yourself. However, hope is not lost! The key to building self-image is to turn your gaze inward, to look internally and not be motivated materially by expensive cars, good looks and perfect bodies. Ultimately it comes down to confidence! Many of us admire people who are confident, in control and comfortable in their skin. I admire people who move through life with ease, dealing effortlessly with any hardships that come their way. While I put these people on a pedestal, it’s important to remember that nobody is perfect and that everyone has flaws.
Building self-esteem doesn’t happen overnight. Once you begin making changes and focusing on the positives will you learn to love yourself. Here are 7 simple steps to building your self-esteem and changing the way you think about yourself:
Build your self-esteem by practising yoga to strengthen your mind and body. Yoga helps you to focus on your breathing, balance, and improves your outlook on life, so start thinking positively by fitting in a weekly yoga session to help you relax. My personal yoga practice has really enhanced my life and improved my mental and body awareness. Practise meditation to gain a deeper connection with yourself and increase your awareness. By taking 10 minutes to sit quietly, you will find your anxieties melting away.
Exercise is a great way to improve your physical and mental self as it keeps you healthy and minimises stress. By keeping to a regular fitness routine you can keep your emotions in check by diving into a sports activity that you love. If you fall out of your routine, don’t be disheartened, simply pick yourself back up and carry on. Exercising with friends is a fun way to keep motivated.
There are countless ways to explore yourself. Enjoy some quality me-time to sort out your thoughts, figure out what you want and where to go from there. The best way to find yourself is to do something inspiring and life changing! Whether you go travelling to a far-flung destination, relax and improve yourself on a wellness holiday or put your skills to good use by volunteering to work abroad, you’ll find new experiences and boost your self-esteem in the process.
Setting realistic yet challenging goals is a good way to make sure you achieve your ambitions. Start off small, by writing yourself targets and working yourself up to bigger goals. I find that writing a daily action list keeps me accountable and on track of my commitments. Completing a goal and then checking it off your list is a great feeling, giving you a sense of achievement that will spur you on to reach your other goals.
Motivate yourself by doing the things you love do to, as this relieves stress while providing an outlet for creativity and passion. Whether you like to listen to inspirational music, play an instrument or read and write, be inspired in all you do and you will not only motivate yourself but others around you.
It’s not often that we find time to treat ourselves so take an hour of the day and solely devote it to pampering yourself. Whether you want to get a new hair-cut or go shopping, it’ll be a short break from your daily routine and will make you feel good about yourself. It’s also important to plan and take a holiday at least once a year. Holidays are so healthy for us and a well-being break can offer more health benefits than you may realise.
One of the root causes of low self-worth is comparing yourself to others around you and wishing you were somebody else. Comparing yourself to others is one of the biggest hits to your self-respect, as you are actively searching for ways to put yourself down. Forget about everyone else and focus on yourself. The sooner you accept yourself, for who you are, the happier you will become.
Learn to master these 7 steps to leaving your insecurities behind and build up a healthy self-esteem.
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