Is Low Self-Esteem Preventing You From Achieving Your True Potential?
Do you often compare yourself to friends or coworkers and feel like you can never measure up? Do you seek validation from others, but even glowing approval is never enough to sustain your sense of worth? It may be that you frequently diminish or criticize yourself, fixating on fears that you aren’t good enough while dismissing your successes and strengths. Perhaps a lack of confidence keeps you from doing the things you wish to accomplish the most and you’re becoming tired of waiting for life to happen. Or maybe you overcompensate with narcissistic, grandiose or aggressive behavior to conceal a poor self-image or lack of self-respect, only to feel empty and unfulfilled later on.
Do you have trouble relying on yourself for emotional strength or genuinely loving the person you are? Maybe your relationship is suffering because you depend too much on your partner or spouse to create the sense of worthiness and confidence you desire. Perhaps you worry that low self-esteem is responsible for, or contributing to other conditions, such as depression, anxiety or anger management issues. Or, maybe you have subscribed to self-medication and unhealthy behavioral patterns, such as sexual compulsivity or taking unnecessary risks to help mask the pain. Do you wish you could learn how to build self-esteem, accept yourself, believe in your worth and begin living a more purposeful and authentic life?
Self-Esteem Issues Affect People From All Walks Of Life
Whether young or old, accomplished or just starting out—this issue can affect anyone. But as pervasive as it is in the world, low self-confidence and self-regard is largely misunderstood. Most parents don’t really know how to impart positive self-esteem to their children (as they were never taught, themselves). With the level of competition and adversity inherent in modern educational institutions, schools have a difficult time fostering empowered, self-assured students. And individuals suffering from self-doubt and internal criticism have a difficult time identifying what healthy self-esteem truly looks like.
Positive self-esteem is based on two key factors. One is the belief in your own efficacy—or, the belief in your ability to affect positive change and expect success rather than failure. The other key factor is self-acceptance—the ability to know yourself, be comfortable in your own skin and to assume accountability for yourself and your actions. It’s essential to be capable of embracing both of these aspects of personality as a whole.
Without engaging in these two factors, problems with self-esteem can perpetuate or even exacerbate other physiological complications. In fact, low self-esteem is often a contributing factor at the core of other mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, conflict avoidance and anger management issues. Fortunately, with a caring and experienced mental health counselor, everyone can learn to cultivate and maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem.
“What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.” Abraham Maslow
Low Self-Esteem Treatment Can Be An Empowering And Life-Changing Experience
When we regard ourselves as unworthy or incapable, it negatively impacts our sense of happiness and desire to live full, competent lives. Without a sense of self-worth, people may not realize their full potential, function effectively day to day or naturally live the lives they were intended to. By engaging in individual counseling for building self-esteem and committing to practicing the six basic principals of good self-esteem, you can redefine who you are and open a door to a multitude of possibilities to your future.
In safe and confidential low self-esteem treatment sessions, I will teach you just how critical a healthy sense of self-respect and self-worth is to functioning effectively and healthily in your career, relationships and all other aspects of life. You can learn how feeling good about yourself reinforces healthy actions and decisions and how it can steer you away from destructive behavior and self-diminishing thought patterns. I can also teach you techniques for improving self-esteem that will be sustainable in the future.
According to self-esteem expert Nathaniel Brandon, there are six pillars or fundamental practices that, if exercised consistently, will help you both raise and maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem.
- The practice of living consciously, through which you will learn how to live with a mindful awareness that can help you accept truth and reality instead of engaging in denial or avoidance.
- The practice of self-acceptance, through which you learn the importance of accepting your emotions, thoughts, motivations and physical and mental well-being.
- The practice of self-responsibility, through which you learn to cultivate independence, accountability and the ability to live by your own means.
- The practice of self-assertiveness and embracing the value and validity of your thoughts, actions and capabilities.
- The practice of living purposefully, through which we emphasize the importance of pursuing goals and actively engaging in your desires rather than waiting for something to happen.
- The practice of personal integrity, an act of bridging the gaps between your moral compass and how you actually demonstrate your true values through your actions and emotions.
By implementing these six pillars and working together at your own pace, I can show you how to transform your perception of self and attitude, and begin building a renewable source of positive self-esteem.
“Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” JFK
If you underestimate your power to grow and seldom appreciate how much you can do on your own to reach a higher level of self-esteem, you are not alone, and there is another way. By working together and committing to the practice of these principles you can experience a greater sense of fulfillment, wholeness and authenticity in life. If you are ready to take responsibility for your own happiness and life, low self-esteem treatment can make all the difference.
I am considering counseling for self-esteem, but I still have questions and concerns…
I’m not sure if building self-esteem is really possible for me.
The fact that you have already begun the process of healing by researching resources is evidence that you are both capable and ready to do this. Recognize that the first step to increasing self-esteem is understanding that change is truly possible and that the process starts with you. Together, working within your comfort zone, we can set a course to increase your level of self-respect, self-worth and self-confidence and in the process, open up new possibilities and opportunities for a more robust life.
I’m not shy or introverted, so why seek low self-esteem treatment?
Being shy or introverted is not always a sign of self-esteem issues. In fact, many people who display signs of over-confidence or flashy behavior are often masking negative thoughts about themselves. Self-esteem is a self-sustaining force that comes from within, meaning that, if you find yourself compulsively engaging in grandiose or even aggressive behavior in order to attain the external validation of others, you may, in truth, be experiencing trouble finding the natural validity and integrity within you. Whether introverted or outgoing, learning to recognize your intrinsic self-worth is crucial to enjoying life, feeling whole and acting genuinely.
“Of all the judgments we pass in life, none is as important as the one we pass on ourselves.” Nathaniel Branden
I’m afraid that counseling will prove that I really am broken.
No matter how flawed or broken you may feel, there is always the possibility for self-improvement. Understand that a majority of what informs our sense of self-worth and confidence was learned at an extremely young age—that the impressions from our youth have lasting effects on our lives even as an adult. It is likely that some of your low-self esteem is a result of past childhood experiences or family life and has little to nothing to do with who you are now. By understanding your past and investing in changing your perception of yourself, you can learn to heal and love yourself, and in turn, love the days ahead of you.
You Don’t Have To Doubt Yourself Anymore
If self-esteem issues are preventing you from discovering your true potential or you want to feel better about yourself, I encourage you to call, text or email me for a free 15 – 30 minute consultation. I would be honored to talk about any concerns or questions you may have about counseling for low self-esteem, depression counseling, anxiety counseling and my practice in Manhattan Beach, CA.