We present the fundamental bases that anyone can put into practice to achieve good self-esteem.
That is why, if you are interested in knowing the main bases to achieve a high level of self-esteem, consult the selection that we present below, as it may be useful for you or for anyone around you.
The 10 bases to enjoy a healthy self-esteem
So, below we present the 10 essential bases to achieve a correct and healthy self-esteem , summarizing each section and explaining the main characteristics of each one so that you can start applying them today.
1. Accept yourself
It may seem like a cliché, but one of the first bases that we must take into account to build a healthy and positive self-esteem is to accept ourselves. The unattainable and socially shared canons in our society, image and lifestyle are usually the most common reasons why someone may have low self-esteem and not accept themselves.
Being constantly at war with our image or with ourselves can be one of the reasons why we are unhappy. To solve this, the best option we have is to accept once and for all who we are, with our flaws and virtues, and realize that being who we are is precisely what makes us exceptional and special.
2. Value our virtues
Another key to having good self-esteem and being happy in general is learning to value all that is good in ourselves. Often some people tend to value themselves very negatively and constantly focus on negative things about themselves or hurtful self-perceptions, something that only serves to sink our self-esteem.
Valuing the good things we have, the good things we know how to do, our strengths, skills, knowledge or what makes us good in some area of life, will be essential to start increasing our self -esteem and treating ourselves fairly.
3. Be assertive
We can define assertiveness as the capacity or social ability to know what we want at all times, to be clear about our rights, opinions and desires and defend them against other people with authority but also with respect.
Knowing what we want in life, having confidence in ourselves and defending our position and personal interests in the world around us, will also be another key to finding ourselves well in the world and in social relationships.
4. A healthy circle of friends
The circle of friends, as well as the group of people that make up our daily social relationships, whether they are friends and even family members, must participate in our daily well-being and be a positive reinforcement for our self-esteem.
If we have a group of friends who make us feel bad every time we are with them, then we will most likely need to change friendships to regain positive self-esteem. In any area of life we must approach people who make us feel good and stay away from those who harm us in any way.
5. See life positively
Although it is hard to believe, changing our negative way of seeing the world, embracing a positive conception of our life and of the things that happen to us, can be the differential fact that helps us increase our self-esteem, since with a positive and vital predisposition we will feel better about ourselves and with more strength to face life.
Likewise, positivism also has to do with leaving behind the past and everything that makes us suffer or hurts us and looking to the future at all times.
6. Healthy habits
Achieving a good state of self-esteem is not only achieved by changing our attitude and our thoughts, to achieve a state of well-being and fullness we must also carry out a series of healthy habits that affect our physical well-being, as well as our psychological well-being.
Carrying out healthy habits has to do with having an active life, exercising from time to time and maintaining a healthy diet whenever we can. Health professionals have shown that happiness is also related to hormone release related to physical activity and having healthy lifestyle habits.
7. Realistic aspirations
Experts in the field of mental health and psychology agree that one of the keys to achieving well-being in life and increasing our self-esteem is setting realistic goals.
Being aware of our potential to achieve what we set out to do but also setting goals that are not too far from our abilities, we will be able to live our lives in a much more adaptive and happy way.
8. Avoid comparisons
Once again we have to be aware that the social or beauty models that we have become accustomed to seeing on television, in the movies or in advertising correspond to standards that are often far from reality.
That is why, taking into account the previous section, it is advisable to set realistic goals and not compare ourselves with anyone around us, since only then will we be able to be well with ourselves.
9. The path to self-esteem is in oneself
One of the key points to keep in mind to maintain a healthy self-esteem is to learn that no one will make us happy except ourselves, and that by seeking to increase our self-esteem somewhere other than ourselves, we will never find it.
Knowing this and putting it into practice on a daily basis, we will undoubtedly achieve a very positive level of self-esteem, with which we will have a physically, emotionally and psychologically healthy life.
10. Loving each other
The last section encompasses all the points mentioned above. The key to reaching a correct and healthy self-esteem is to love ourselves before anyone else and give ourselves all the necessary care to be well in all aspects of our lives.
So that to achieve a correct state of self-esteem, it is advisable to: accept ourselves as we are; be clear about our aspirations and our dreams; surround ourselves with people who make us feel good; face life with optimism; maintain healthy habits; set achievable goals and not compare ourselves with others.
Are you interested in having psychological support?
If you think you have low self-esteem and want to go to psychotherapy to overcome this type of discomfort and others related to it, contact me . I am Tomás Santa Cecilia and I have been offering psychological and emotional support to my patients for half my life.
I am a psychologist specializing in the cognitive-behavioral intervention model, one of the most effective for addressing behavioral and emotional problems, and I attend both in person at my office in Madrid and online through the video call format.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.
