When you have high self-esteem, you just know it.
You start to take more action. You don’t care as much about the negative things that could happen in your life. You begin to realize that bad things do happen–but that they don’t define you as a person. You take risks more often–good kinds of risks-and you learn from your mistakes. This is being on the upper end of the self-esteem continuum. This is high self-esteem.
You might be wondering at this point: So what? What does that mean for me?
I’m glad you thought-whispered that to me.
Like I mentioned earlier, self-esteem has to come from within. It has to emanate from the core of your being. And before you worry that I’m getting even further off track, let’s break it all down.
If self-esteem is a feeling state, you have to learn about good feeling states and bad feeling states–another continuum in its own right.
Good feeling states can be generated by taking positive actions. Sitting around ruminating will not lead to a good feeling state. But sitting around meditating on positive thoughts just might. Dreaming up ways you can tackle a big problem is productive. Getting out there and actually trying some of those actions out is even more productive.
It’s a bouncing back and forth between contemplating and taking action. The more you can do this, and the more you speed up the contemplation-action feedback loop, the quicker you can build your self-esteem.
So try this self-esteem approach today.
Consider what makes you feel bad. Consider what makes you lose confidence in yourself. Don’t dwell on this. Don’t ruminate. Instead, start taking quick action. Write it down if it helps. Say it out loud if that’s more your style. Whatever you try, do it quickly.
Once you have a better idea of what produces bad feeling states, you must take opposing steps to integrate better feeling states into your life. You must grab hold of those opposing ideas and make them reality. An idea not acted upon is a lost opportunity. But an idea that becomes alive through action is a tangible part of your life. It becomes part of you.
And this is the embodiment of self-esteem. That’s becoming fully alive on the continuum from low self-esteem to high self-esteem.
It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science. It’s not even necessary to have a high school diploma. Self-esteem is something that just is. It’s available to everyone. It’s available to you right now.
Think about it for a bit. Acknowledge the bad and then dream up the good. And then seize it.
So where are you on this continuum?
Can you move yourself more to the positive, high self-esteem part of the continuum?
I think you can.
But you are the one that will have to do the work.
Another heavy topic for you to dig into. I’m doing as much as I can to pack these issues with meaningful insights so that you can get more of your life, all while you learn about mental health. Thanks for reading.
Jordan
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