Building a Healthy Sense of Self with Counseling
Self-esteem is so important. It is essential in building a positive sense of self and setting yourself up for success. It is difficult to strive and reach your goals if you don’t view yourself in a positive light. When we have low self-esteem we tend to doubt ourselves and feel that we don’t deserve to be successful. The good news is that self-esteem can change throughout our lives, you can build up your sense of self-worth. Counseling can help.
The Importance of Self-Esteem
Self-esteem plays a significant role in our lives. It can impact many aspects of your life and so much of what you do. You are likely to enjoy more satisfying relationships with family, friends, coworkers and mentors, if you have healthy self-esteem. You may also find it easier to face challenges and your defeats when you have a strong sense of self.
The way you view yourself impacts how you approach the world. You can face life and its challenges with optimism or with skepticism and doubt. The choice is yours. You can improve your self-esteem.
Healthy Self-Esteem vs Low Self-Esteem: What to Look For?
It isn’t always easy to tell if you have healthy self-esteem or not. According to therapist Tina Gilbertson, some telltale signs that you have healthy self-esteem are:
- Your ability to share yourself without feeling vulnerable
- Actively finding ways to reach your goals
- Appreciating honesty
- Embracing responsibility
- Nurturing your health
- Favoring self-improvement
- Ability to stay positive
- Supporting others
If you have healthy self-esteem, you are also likely to be confident. Reach Out shares some signs that may indicate low self-esteem, including:
- difficulty accepting praise
- insecure body language, such as walking with head down and reluctance to make eye contact
- negativity about others and avoidance of social situations
- not joining in on activities
- holding back or not expressing yourself
- being timid when you want to speak up
- a willingness to succumb to peer influence
- an expectation of failure, or to not try as hard when things become a challenge.
Building Your Self-Esteem
Healthy self-esteem can be considered a gift to you and those around you; and strengthening it is one of the most positive steps that you can do for yourself. Accept the support and resources around you. Start by being aware of what you can do to build your self-esteem, such as having a positive attitude and not setting impossible standards for yourself. Work on what you can change – embrace a healthy lifestyle, choose your friends well, and learn to “accept what you cannot change”. This may sound like a tall order, and it is. Building a healthier sense of self takes time, therapy can help.
There are times when poor self-esteem can be more deeply rooted, so overcoming it can feel like an impossible task. If self-criticizing has become a habit and it is contributing to your emotional pain, seeking support can make a huge difference. Do not allow the past to determine your destiny. Surround yourself with positive people who genuinely love and care for you, those who can provide positive feedback.
A trained behavioral health professional can help you gain self-esteem by pinpointing negative thoughts and behaviors. Interventions like those practiced with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help you develop a more positive narrative. Therapy can help improve your self-image and self-esteem. CCS in Southern Pines contracts with skilled licensed therapists and counselors that can help. Call today to schedule your first appointment!
PO BOX 9909 Fayetteville, NC 28311