If you have low self-esteem, you may feel that you just don't like yourself. However, you should be very wary about making such all-or-nothing, global judgements; no matter how low your self-esteem may be, there will certainly be things about yourself that you will probably feel are at least 'not too bad'. This could be one or more of many attributes; you might be a good listener, have great looking hair, be a loyal friend, have a wicked sense of humour, complete sudoku puzzles with ease, be kind and generous... the list is endless. Don't let your unhappiness over one or two of your traits cloud your judgement over your many good qualities.
Try making a list of all your positive attributes:
- What are your likeable qualities? Are you kind? Generous? Loyal? Caring? Witty? Dependable?
- Think of your strengths - what do you find easy to do that others may struggle with? What do you like doing? The chances are you are good at them too.
- What about things you have done for others?
When compiling your list, avoiding discounting your qualities and attributes by thinking "That's nothing" or "Anyone could do that". In making this list, you can start to accentuate the positive, rather than dwell on the negative. Each one of us has something to offer that can be enjoyed and appreciated by someone else. Learning to recognise this is a major step towards improving your self-esteem. Remember, if you value yourself, it makes it much easier for others to value you too.
