Title: Self-Esteem Struggles and Strategies That Can Help
Headings: Self-Esteem Struggles and Strategies That Can Help
Self-Esteem Struggles and Strategies That Can Help
The Origin of Self-Esteem Struggles
Why Some People Struggle But Not Others
Challenges & Strategies to Build Self-Esteem

Content: Fortunately, there are many ways to bolster self-esteem. Howes helps his clients “gain some perspective and see that while they may have work to do in one area (procrastination or physical health, for example), they have many other qualities of equal or greater importance (intelligence, loyalty, kindness, for example).” Doing charitable work also can help someone chip away at their low self-esteem, because, according to Howes, “It’s hard to simultaneously hold onto self-hatred when you’re actively engaged in acts of charity.” He says that it’s tougher for people to rationalize that they’re terrible if they’re helping others, thereby helping to quell negative self-talk. “ When people begin to care for others they’re doing, feeling and creating goodness. It’s difficult to rationally say ‘I made three people’s lives better today, but I’m no good.’” Gertsen says that positive psychology offers many techniques for building self-esteem. She suggests finding people “who support your growth and development,” seeing a counselor, problem-solving what you can change, accepting the things you can’t, finding activities that you love and engaging in them regularly and reducing “physical stress with meditation and exercise.” Photo by Daniel R. Blume, available under a Creative Commons attribution license. Last medically reviewed on May 17, 2016