Self-Esteem & Self-Confidence

mindcheck.ca

Since I've "liked" certain pages on Facebook I've been getting posts that I actually appreciate!

There was even an intriguing link to an article discussing self-esteem and the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence.

I've definitely struggled with self-esteem for nearly my entire life. Negative self-talk is my near-constant companion and battling down this habit has become an ongoing struggle for me.

My self-confidence isn't nearly as bad but is still horrible!

I can recognize my innate artistic talent and my personable nature yet I resist bolstering any self-confidence for fear of being selfish or stuck-up.

I've been torn down so many times I'm afraid to feel good about myself because it feels like I'm priming myself for an attack.

I have a good sense of humor but I've been teased by my family for so many years about my "old-person" dry humor that I often suppress my expression to avoid potential critiques and sarcastic quips.

Nowadays I'm trying to thicken up my skin and adopt a "screw 'em" attitude about what anybody has to say about me being me-but it's an uphill battle working against decades of bad habits!

Here's some tips from the article:

• Think of qualities others say you excel in. Even if you believe them only slightly, this is a step in the right direction.
• Stop the negative chatter. Shut it up! Start to think of contradictions to these statements.
• Would you say it to a friend? If not, stop saying these statements to yourself.
• Make a list of strengths. Think of what you would say about yourself if you were on a job interview.

The first step is to recognize you have a problem!