A worn-out platitude that can sound tacky, I know, but make no mistake, a healthy sense of self-worth is the most important thing you can possess.
If your self-esteem is low, you are likely to be unhappy with your looks, your physique, your talents and so on. Because of this discontentment with yourself, it's easy to be jealous of others, and in a vicious cycle, this jealousy leads to even more unhappiness.
If you are unsure of yourself, you are also more likely to keep to yourself, avoid people, and be fearful of social interaction. You have very little confidence in your talents and skills. You are unlikely to promote yourself, believing that your present lot is the best that you can do. This impedes growth and success, and the failure to fulfill your dreams and goals leads to regret and more dissatisfaction.
In relationship, a weak sense of self-esteem can make you feel insecure. You are probably constantly worrying about your partner's feelings and motivations. Needless to say, that puts a huge wedge between you and your partner.
So if you are sick of feeling bad about yourself, how can you boost your self-esteem?
One of the easiest and quickest ways is to be extra good to your body. Get into a regular healthy sleep schedule, commit to a fitness routine, and tone up your body. Choose healthy, nourishing foods, find more ways to relax and spend more time with the people you love. You will feel and look better and have more energy to pursue your goals.
Also, stop blaming and judging yourself. Everybody makes mistakes... the difference is that other people learn to pick themselves up quickly and move on, while others stay haunted by them. So forgive yourself for mistakes. Find the lessons and learn from them.
Many of us are held back by our fears. Fear of rejection, fear of ridicule, fear of failure, fear of unwanted results if we took a risk. But most of these fears are not real. so identify your fears.... what's really behind them? Many of them are likely to be groundless or have no wider impact. Recognise that your fears are due to your lack of belief in yourself than any other real circumstances.
So give yourself the greatest gift of all - a firm and health sense of self-esteem.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
