Get Growing! Tools and Strategies for Living, Working and Relating Well

"Oh Where Oh Where Has My Self-Esteem Gone?"
  May 3 , 2023

While COVID isn’t entirely in the rear-view mirror, life is returning to a new normal of sorts. But now we're seeing the growth of another kind of pandemic, low self-esteem. Why is this occurring and what can we do about it?

Low self-esteem is not new. Our culture plants the seeds of self-doubt early. Parents often fail to foster a healthy sense of self in their children, setting the stage for poor self-concept. Social media then bombards us with images and messages telling us we’re less than or not measuring up to some unrealistic standard. So why is this now becoming a post-pandemic problem?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
We’ve all had to navigate COVID in our own way. For some of us it was difficult, whereas others sailed right through it. COVID tested us, making those things we already struggled with even more challenging. For those who didn’t
emerge on solid footing, self-esteem took a beating.

Add to that prolonged social isolation, which made many feel as if they’d lost their edge. Venturing back into
the workplace or life situations in general became intimidating. Many asked themselves what if I’m not up to it? 
Even those of us who are well-seasoned and know a thing or two about overcoming life’s challenges were shaken.

Sound familiar? Here are some tools that will help you get back on track and improve self-esteem.

  • Make a list of all of your strengths and things you like about yourself. Then go over each one, deeply acknowledge it and give yourself a proverbial (or literal) pat on the back for being such a great person.

  • Ask a close friend or relative who knows you well, to come up with three things they like/appreciate about       you and have them put it in writing. Go over each one and savor it. Then thank yourself for being the wonderful person you are.

  • Set a boundary, any boundary. Setting a firm boundary is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself or someone else. When you set a boundary, you show yourself and others that you are worth caring for and protecting, that you are deserving of love and respect. As Dr. Phil says, we teach people how to treat us.

  • Be nice to YOU. Treat yourself the way you would treat your best friend, because you are your best friend!

Charity begins at home. If you don’t believe in your own self-worth, neither will anyone else. If you see yourself as less than, others will do the same. No one but you can bolster your self-esteem. It’s already within you. It's a part of who you are. All you have to do, is acknowledge it.

A Good Read:
"I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Making the Journey from "What Will People Think?" to "I Am Enough" by Brené Brown  
 
Quote of the Day:
"Loving yourself isn’t vanity. It’s sanity"  ~ Katrina Mayer

Want to learn more ways to boost self esteem? Check this out!

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     ERNIE'S BLOG

   When I was a stray I had         low self-esteem, but I             must  have been  pretty         scrappy to survive on my       own, so now I feel really          good about myself!

      BTW...catchy title!