Self Esteem/Confidence

Hey @green_racoon 

Feeling confident and self-esteem can be challenging and a bit of a journey but it's great to see that you want to improve on them. At the start of the year, this was also one of my goals to improve myself. 

I have found wearing clothes, my hair, make-up etc that I am comfortable with and feel good in. Trying to make an effort to recognise what I felt good in and what made me feel like I could take on the world was a start. That's always a good place to start I think. 

I know the others have said it, positive affirmations work, there are really great apps that at a set time during the day will notify you with a positive affirmation, if looking in the mirror and saying to yourself can be challenging at first. Even writing them on sticky notes and putting them in places you will see often can work. Also practicing mindfulness can be beneficial. 

Another good one is to challenge yourself.  These can be a great way to set yourself small goals, and slowly progress into them. Setting a day aside every couple of weeks that is dedicated to going out somewhere or trying some new. Eventually, it does get easier but it's the first tiny step that matters.

You might have heard the saying healthy body, healthy mind and this is totally true. Regular exercise, a balanced diet and sleeping well can support you in feeling more confident and growing your self-esteem, it can boost your mood and make some of those challenges, and positive affirmations easier to do. That's what I found.  

I hope some of this helps.

Hey there! 

Definitely get where you're coming from. Building self-esteem and confidence is a journey, but here are a few tips I try to do and implement day to day:

1. Positive Self-Talk: Start your day with some positive affirmations. Remind yourself of your strengths and achievements, no matter how small they may seem. 2. Set Small Goals: Break down your bigger goals into smaller, manageable steps. Celebrate your progress along the way. For example, one of my small goals has been to wear 1 bright-coloured clothing item, it's not a lot but as someone who usually doesn't like to draw attention, it's a step.

3. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone: Try new activities or hobbies where you can meet new people. It's a great way to build confidence and make friends with common interests.

4. Body Language: Stand tall, make eye contact, and smile. It's crazy how just small differences can change the way we feel bout ourselves.

Remember, everyone feels awkward sometimes, and it’s okay to be yourself. Keep putting yourself out there, and over time, you'll find your confidence growing. You've got this! 

Hey there @green_racoon !

First off, it's amazing that you wanna improve on your self esteem! That is already the first step to being more confident so you are absolutely slaying✨
A tip that really helped me with my self esteem and confidence is keeping a journal. In this journal I would write three things I'm grateful for (which is also really good for anxiety) and also some positive affirmations. Even speaking out loud and telling yuorself these positive affirmations can help a lot. I know it sounds kinda cringey but the more you tell yourself, the more you believe it and feel more confident! Some positive affirmations I like to say to myself include "I am strong", "I am beautiful", "I am sure of myself" and "my anxiety isn't me", but you can say whatever positive affirmations you want!

Also just being kind to yourself in general helps. This can be done through self care like buying that sweet lil treat you've been craving all day. 
Hope this helps!

Hey @green_racoon 

I hope you are having a lovely day so far! I have to say that I love your post, not only to receive advice and tips but you also let others know that they are not struggling with their self-confidence/self-esteem alone. Thank you!

As for my own experience, I would say my self-confidence is a lot better than what it was I can share what helps. 

My self-confidence is impacted by how I perceive myself, both physically and mentally. I like to dress in clothes that make me feel confident and like myself, nothing too fancy or extravagant but I love a neat and clean aesthetic so I prefer capsule pieces and simple jewellery. When I dress nice, I feel confident to talk to others, and I find I receive more compliments, which helps too!

I wholeheartedly agree that self-confidence is about how you think of yourself, and I always feel more confident about myself when I achieve my goals. Working on myself is probably the best thing I did to improve my self-confidence. For example, I noticed that I wasn't having the healthiest diet (I was eating out every day), so I spent time going grocery shopping and learning how to make some simple dishes. Not only did I improve my diet but also my cooking skills, and I was so proud of myself for that!

I think being proud of yourself is the most important part of improving your self-confidence, so do things that you would be proud of yourself about!

I hope that I helped you even a little bit. And I would love an update on your journey if you want to!

Have a nice day!

Hi @green_racoon , it's really cool that you want to improve your self-esteem and confidence! I used to be extremely shy and socially anxious, so I can totally relate to issues with self-esteem and confidence.

Here are some things that helped me become a bit more confident and self-assured:

1. Literally YOLO: I worked to change my mindset by starting to really know and understand that people are mostly thinking about themselves. Lots of the stuff that can make you cringe and feel awkward probably go unnoticed by everybody else! Now I won't lie to you - this step can be hard! It requires lots of mental reminders, but it's so worth it.

2. Embrace your awkwardness: this one is kinda weird but it really works! I found that being honest about my awkwardness helped me and others become more comfortable, and it can be pretty funny to say these things out loud. Plus, it can open up the opportunity for others to provide reassurance which can make you feel even more comfortable. Does that sound like something you would be comfortable trying?

3. Practice makes easier: I hateeeeee this one but it's honestly so useful. Put yourself out there and start conversations to practice raising your self-esteem and seeming more confident. You might get to know some really cool people, or you might realise that this person just isn't your type of person. Either way, you'll gain a new friend or you've been able to practice your skills! And truly, it gets so much easier over time.

I hope this is helpful and good luck!!