Title: CMHC Self Esteem
Headings: Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem
What is Self-Esteem?
Poor vs. Healthy Self-Esteem
Where Does Self-Esteem Come From?
Childhood experiences that contribute to healthy self-esteem include:
Childhood experiences that may lead to low self-esteem include:
What Does Your "Inner Voice" Say?
Three Faces of Low Self-Esteem
Consequences of Low Self-Esteem
Three Steps to Improved Self-Esteem
Step 1: Rebut the Inner Critic
Step 2: Practice Self-Compassion
Step 3: Get Help from Others
Reading Materials
Websites
Where can I find help?

Content: Accepting our "humanness" helps us to feel more connected to others rather than feeling we are enduring these types of experiences all alone. Recognizing that mistakes are an inevitable part of being human helps us to be more compassionate with ourselves and others. Be mindful of your emotions. If you do feel upset about a situation, try to allow yourself to experience that emotion in a balanced way, without suppressing it or getting completely swept up in the feeling. When practicing mindfulness, try not to judge yourself for having negative emotions. If you can remember that emotions come and go and eventually pass, it will help you to not become overwhelmed by your feelings. Step 3: Get Help from Others
Getting help from others is often the most important step a person can take to improve his or her self-esteem, but it can also be the most difficult. People with low self-esteem often don't ask for help because they feel they don't deserve it, but other people can help to challenge the critical messages that come from negative past experiences. Here are some ways to reach out to others: