How to have more Self-Esteem

Lately, I've been dealing with a lot of self esteem issues about my nose, my body, my hair, the way I look and my social life in general. I feel like I'm a loser, or I don't have enough friends. I think that I'm so imperfect that I get sad, and when you're sad, you don't feel like doing much of anything (except for your favorite TV show, tea, and imaginary ice cream. Only me? Okay, that's cool. :P)

Whatever it is that you don't feel is good about yourself, well you will!

This picture not only shows how you look when you have low self-esteem, but it makes me smile at how cute this toddler is :) Oh, the feels.

1. Look at yourself everyday in the mirror and say 10 great things about the way you look. This is a great way to get me smiling and happy. I even say that the things I don't like are great, because I should love everything about myself, and so should you. If you don't love yourself, it's going to be hard to love other people. Then, say 10 things you're good at. I put these 2 in the same category/step because they are almost the same thing. There has to be at least 10 things you're good at, you should even be able to name one hundred! :)
2. Don't let other people tell you who you are. If someone tells me that I have a weird looking nose, I think, screw them, I have a flawless nose. I feel good by doing this, because I like to think that those people are jealous, and even if it very likely is not true, I like the idea. Once you let people define you, you will never be happy with yourself.
3. Dress the way you want to feel. If you wear grey, dark clothes, though they are cozy colors for the cold weather, it may make you feel sadder. Dress nicely, put yourself together. Wearing something lazy (and not the cute, sweatpant lazy) and gross-smelling will only make your self-esteem lower. Seriously, what's worse than looking in the mirror and seeing yourself in your depressed state on the outside! Screw what your feel, now you show it. Come on, you can do better than that.
   
4. Keep up on hygiene. Ew, I look and feel gross. My teeth are yellow, my hair is greasy. I hate myself. Enough of that. There is a reason you look and feel that way. If you let your sadness with yourself get in the way of taking care of your body, no way you're going to feel better. Brush your teeth at least twice everyday, take a shower in the morning and before you go to bed, and have yourself feeling better already. When you are clean and nice-looking, you will look 10 times more gorgeous than you already do. (If you're a guy, then replace gorgeous with handsome ;) )
5. Work out. Maybe the reason you feel bad about yourself is because you're overweight, or too scrawny. You can change that! I do yoga almost everyday, yet I try to find time every day. I even have a post about it, so maybe if you search 'yoga' or 'exercise' you can find it. Once you start working out, you will look and feel better. So why not?
6. Give to others. Making other people happy will make you feel happy! You will feel great about yourself! 
   
7. Be at the front of things; get noticed. If you aren't willing to sit in the front of your work building or classroom, no way are you confident in yourself. You have to be ready to be noticed and feel great about it, knowing that you are brilliant and whatever you say will be looked upon with gratefulness because you contributed. Being active in clubs, school, work, etc. and showing your ideas while being confident will show well on college and work applications. :)

Remember, you are the person you are for a reason. You are here because you were brought into the world with purpose. Do something with that. Be confident, there's no reason not to be. :) Easier said than done, I know. Still, try your best.

'Till next time,

Alex