Self-esteem and confidence are essential factors that contribute to our overall well-being and mental health. They are vital for us to upkeep and build to experience growth in all other aspects of life. Self-esteem is our confidence in ourselves; Our self-esteem needs to be healthy to be confident in our mental and physical selves. Self-esteem and confidence go hand in hand because more confidence usually leads to better self-esteem. When we work on both of these things, it allows us to build resilience and happiness and improve our well-being. However, many of us struggle with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and pessimistic thoughts. These things often hinder us from embracing our full potential and pursuing opportunities. This blog will explore ways to build our self-esteem and confidence. 

1. Run your own race

The saying “comparison is the thief of joy” is widespread and somewhat accurate. Often it’s hard to improve or practice having good self-esteem when we constantly compare ourselves to others. We usually compare ourselves on social media, at work, or in everyday life. The best way to improve your self-confidence and self-esteem is to run your race. When you focus on yourself, no one can feel worse or better. It will also help you reach your goals more efficiently because you’ll only be worried about your productivity. 

2. Celebrate the small wins

Similar to our last point, it’s essential to run your race. As you’re running your race, it’s also important to celebrate the progress you’re making. Significant goals often sometimes feel only possible to reach with smaller benchmarks. We also tend to lower our self-esteem when we can’t track progress. As we work towards anything, we must always celebrate the small wins so we feel empowered in everything we do. Celebrating the small successes allows us to build confidence because they boost our hood and feelings toward ourselves 

3. Practice compassion 

We must forgive ourselves the same way we forgive others. Often when friends, family, or children we know make mistakes, we comfort and encourage them. It’s time to apply those exact compassionate words and actions to ourselves. We must understand that we are human, too, and not overly critical when making mistakes. This will help us feel better about ourselves in the long run because our confidence won’t diminish every time we fall short, but instead, it will flourish because we can be encouraging to ourselves. 

4. Build positive relationships

Lastly, hanging around people who help your self-esteem and confidence grow is best. If we are constantly hanging around friends and family that bring us down, we often will start to internalize and believe what they say. We naturally feel better when we surround ourselves with relationships that appreciate and celebrate us. Surrounding yourself with optimistic friends will usually affect how you look at things too. 

Improving our self-confidence and self-esteem is a journey that requires patience, self-compassion, and consistency in all aspects. Focusing on ourselves and our well-being is usually easier to build self-esteem. We must invest in good friends, and well-being and confidence will follow. It’s okay to look for outside support, whether through family, friends, or professional help along the way.