Are you struggling with low self esteem? Do you find it difficult to fully love and appreciate yourself? If so, you’ve stumbled upon simple, yet powerful, self improvement ideas and self esteem exercises that will help you to light the flame of self love.
The exercises below won’t change anything on the outside, but they will help you to transform what’s on the inside.
As with anything, remember to be patient with yourself and to listen to your Inner Guidance. You’ll feel it deep within if you’re on the right track for you.
Self Improvement/Self Esteem Exercises
Positive self thought
Start with one positive thought about yourself…. Just one. Do you have a good sense of humor? Can you draw, cook, sing, or help others? Are you a good listener, a tax payer, a loving parent, a good kisser, or a productive citizen?
Even if you can think of 1,000 things that you hate about yourself, focus your thoughts and attention on this one thing that YOU like about YOU. Don’t consider what anyone else in the entire world thinks. Each time a negative thought creeps into your mind, replace it with the thought of what you like.
Because the Universe will support your newly improved thought vibration by sending matching positive thoughts and circumstances, this positive self focus exercise will become easier each time you do it. Eventually you’ll have more than enough positive thoughts about yourself to drown out the “garbage thoughts” that led to your self esteem problems.
Self esteem exercise (mirror technique)
Pick a time when you will have peace and quiet for at least 20 minutes. Remove ALL of your clothes and stand quietly in front of a full length mirror. Look into your own eyes and notice the feelings inside. If tears come, let them flow but continue looking. Notice your entire body, but realize that you’re much more than this body. Continue looking and you’ll start to feel as if you’re looking into your own soul.
Remember yourself as an innocent little child who deserved love, understanding that this child still lives within you. No matter what you’ve done or have not done in your life, realize that the Source from which you came still loves you. As you continue looking at yourself, release any negative thoughts as they come and softly say, “I deeply and completely love you.”
You may feel overcome by emotions, but you should not turn away during this time. Continue looking at yourself in the eyes and say “you deserve my love” and “you are beautiful to me.” Repeat all three of these statements to yourself until you notice a slight emotional improvement. This is a very powerful exercise that may initially leave you with a feeling of exhaustion, but it will work magic in your life if you do it each day.
Positive self affirmations
Write or recite positive self affirmations every day. There is a big chance that negative self messages will creep in while you’re attempting to do this. Notice each negative thought or feeling and ask yourself where it came from. You can even write it down.
If you felt fear or anger when stating a positive self affirmation, ask yourself who would not want you to hold this positive view of yourself. Who would have wanted you to think less of yourself? Who wanted you to feel fear or intimidation?
Acknowledge that the negative self message is their message about you, but it is no longer your message for yourself. Let them have their message back. They can disallow their own happiness by holding that negative feeling about you, but you’re choosing to think and feel better. You may even want to repeatedly write down, “I’m taking my power back.”
Pamper your mind and body
Have at least one weekly self-pampering session. During this time you may choose to take a long candlelit bath, soak your feet, brush/exfoliate your body, or give yourself a manicure. It doesn’t matter what you do, but make it positive and make it 100% about you. Also, end the pamper session by giving yourself a long, tight hug.
If you’re thinking that you don’t have time for such a thing, make the time. Taking care of yourself in this way is every bit as important as eating and drinking. When you don’t take the time to relax and love yourself, you are more vulnerable to outer influences and negative perceptions. And those things can wreak havoc on your life from the inside out. You owe it to yourself to show your body the love and attention that it deserves, so pamper yourself until you’re wearing a million dollar smile.
Self improvement through spiritual growth
As you become more aware of your empowered, loving, perfect Inner Being, there will be no way that low self esteem can persist. This Spiritual You is who you really are. It has been there all of your life just waiting for the physical you to align with it. Accept this larger part of yourself by meditating, listening to your intuition, seeing yourself through compassionate eyes, and learning to refocus your thoughts.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
These things are so true. I really enjoy the messages in all your articles. Keep up the good work.
you are definitely correct that thinking positive helps but looking in the mirror might not work because most people with low self esteem don’t see anything positive when they look in the mirror
I am agreed over the positive approach of yours lets you in the right direction to go….
Disappointing situations may cause your esteem level to come low, i always suggest others to accept every happening as the will of God. and make yourself not disappointed as it is not a virtue getting disappointed over God’s will.
Nice post….i really enjoyed reading this post
the actual thing is that the every guy should be optimistic, then we may achieve their goals for we are working hard.