Short messages on Self-esteem and body confidence issues from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
Instead of comparing yourself to others – especially people you think of as being better/smarter/more beautiful than you in some way – compare yourself to your past self. See how you are a different person, how you have grown and how you do things differently now to how you did 3 or 5 years ago.
You can still accept help whilst being independent – part of independence means knowing your limits, and not being afraid to seek help when you need it.
If you need motivation to improve your work in a job, speak to your actual customers and ask them what you have done that has really helped them or changed their life. Their gratitude and feedback will help you understand what a great effect you have.
There is a lot you can do to improve your body image without changing your body. Talking about your negative feelings and developing new ways to think about your body and your self-worth is a good way to address a negative body image.
Bullying undermines self confidence and lowers self-esteem. Recently 65% of people surveyed with eating disorders felt bullying contributed.
Knowing what makes you happy and how to meet your goals can help you feel capable, strong, and in control of your life. A positive attitude and a healthy lifestyle (such as exercising and eating right) are a great combination for building good self-confidence.
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Self-esteem is how much you value yourself, the pride you feel in yourself, and how worthwhile you feel. It is important: feeling good about yourself can affect how you act. A person who has high self-esteem will make friends easily, is more in control of their behaviour, and will enjoy life more.
People who accept the way they look and feel good about their bodies most of the time have a positive body image. People with a positive body image also understand that how they look does not determine their self-worth.
When you hear negative comments coming from within yourself, tell yourself to stop. Try building your self-esteem by giving yourself three compliments every day.