#58: The Self-esteem edition

May 22, 2021

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Many of us experience low self-esteem at some point in our lives. It might be a lack of confidence in our appearance, feeling out of depth in a work situation, thinking we’re the worst player on the sports team, the most out-of-shape newbie in the gym, or any number of scenarios in daily life.

For some it can be as pronounced as a consistent underlying feeling of ‘not being good enough’ that follows us everywhere, no matter what it is we are doing.

Left unaddressed low self-esteem can drastically hinder our potential to get the most out of our lives. Low self-esteem can hold us back from taking promising life opportunities, like going for that exciting job vacancy, or asking out our crush. It can prevent us from trying new things and developing fresh skills. And it can inhibit our confidence to talk to new people, build relationships, friendships and community.

Overall, low self-esteem can trap us tightly within a limited experience of existence.

I’ve definitely experienced my share of low self-esteem in my life, most of which I’ve overcome with the help of friends, coaches, mentors, books, articles and tips, like the ones which I’ve curated in this week’s edition of The Power Up.

As ever, I hope you find something in this edition that helps you overcome any low-self esteem you may be experiencing in your life:

In this week’s issue:

Is low self-esteem ruining your life? Banish it for good
4 psychological reasons you feel inadequate all the time
How does exercise affect self-esteem?
Positive affirmations for people who don’t like affirmations
How to establish a conscious relationship with yourself
12 keys to a great self-relationship
Is self-improvement making you feel worse?

Enjoy!

And if you’d like to receive The Power Up delivered direct to your inbox every weekend, you can sign-up here.

S E L F – E S T E E M

Is low self-esteem ruining your life? Banish it for good

Research reveals that many of us experience low self-esteem in one area of life or another. But what are its root causes, and is there anything we can do to change it?

Happily, the answer to the second question is a resounding yes. This expert-informed piece from Men’s Health answers both questions in some detail.

M I N D

4 psychological reasons you feel inadequate all the time

Do you often feel inadequate, like you’re not good enough or unworthy?

This article digs into some of the underlying psychological causes and subtle habits that often trigger and maintain feelings of inadequacy in our lives.

B O D Y

How does exercise affect self-esteem?

Regular exercise often leads to an improved body image, makes our heart and bones stronger, lowers the risk of chronic disease, keeps our weight under control and reduces feelings of anxiety and depression.

And while we’re boosting our energy levels, oxygen capacity, muscle tone and general fitness, a side benefit is an increase in self-esteem. Just the win of creating an exercise plan and sticking to it gives us a sense of achievement…

S P I R I T

Positive affirmations for people who don’t like affirmations

Affirmations are positive statements that overcome negative thoughts by affirming our self-integrity.

The concept can seem a little hippy to some, but there’s solid scientific evidence of their effectiveness.

The key, as this article outlines, is to do affirmations in a way that doesn’t make you cringe and feels genuine to you.
Here’s how…

C O N S C I O U S L I V I N G

How to establish a conscious relationship with yourself

Having a conscious relationship with ourselves means becoming more aware of our ongoing inner experience of self-talk, expectations, and attitudes towards ourselves.

Whether we want it or not, we all already have some kind of relationship with ourself – the only question is, how aware we are of how healthy that relationship is in the context of of our overall wellbeing.

C O U R S E