Low Self-Esteem

Self-esteem has been used interchangeably with self-worth, and while both are important, there is a slight difference. Self-esteem describes how you think and feel about yourself, whereas self-worth refers to how much you value yourself. Individuals with high self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence generally experience less stress, sadness, anxiety, and frustration. They have an easier time speaking their mind, setting boundaries, being assertive and taking setbacks less personally.

If you are someone who struggles with low self-esteem, however, you may take many things personally. You might think to yourself, “I am a failure,” “I’m not good enough,” “she’ll never like me,” or “I’m such a loser.” The truth is, you matter just as much as the next person, you are  loveable and worthy, just as you are. What matters is whether or not YOU believe you are. 

Part of our work together will involve exploring your past experiences to see where your belief system originated. While it’s not always necessary, it does make our next task of challenging your negative thoughts a bit easier.  Not all thoughts are true, accurate, or helpful, so, while you cannot control the thoughts that enter your mind, you can learn to observe them and let them go. It may be difficult at first, but with support and a new perspective you can begin to challenge the negative thought patterns (and belief system) that are contributing to your low self-esteem. 

Remember, not everyone is perfect. Mistakes are made and people fail. Don’t be harder on yourself than you would with someone else. Change your self-talk. If you wouldn’t say it to a loved one, then don’t say it to yourself.