How to Handle Low Self-Esteem and Self-Doubt

When faced with a difficult situation, it can be overwhelming and sometimes lead to low self-esteem and self-doubt. This makes it hard to stay motivated and confident. In my experience, it is important to develop coping mechanisms that help you over the long term because everyone experiences difficult times in their lives.

As someone who has struggled with self-doubt and low self-esteem for a long time, I am happy to let you know that you can turn your life around. For a long time, I compared myself to those around me, and this made me feel incredibly inadequate. Without even realizing it, my physical and mental health suffered, my personal and professional growth stalled, and my goals were forgotten. Eventually, I realized that my ways of handling negative emotions were very counterproductive and that making intentional changes was the only way to get back on track.

Managing Low Self-Esteem and Self-Doubt Requires an Intentional Shift in Perspective

Realizing that I was ill-equipped to navigate difficult emotions was the first step to making healthy changes in my life. I began to recognize that my thoughts were not accurate reflections of reality. Challenging my biases became my biggest fight. I became able to pay more attention to my thoughts, examine them and reframe them before they became negative. I would write down moments of self-doubt and low self-esteem and counter them with positive talk. Eventually, I was able to recognize patterns and break them. This helped empower my journey.

Next, I focused on developing a self-care routine personalized to my physical and mental needs. I made time for activities that I enjoyed, developed better relationships, and overall took better care of myself. This all contributed to boosting my self-confidence.

Additionally, the support of my friends and family has been a constant source of strength, and my therapist has helped me see things for what they are, which helped me gain a new perspective on difficult situations. 

During my sessions, my therapist touched on self-forgiveness and self-compassion, which helped me realize how unkind I had been to myself. I have slowly learned how to be kinder to myself and be more forgiving when I make mistakes. It is okay to experience setbacks; life is, after all, a journey of learning and not a destination.

Navigating difficult emotions is tough, but no one has to do it alone. With support from friends, family, and a therapist, you can easily identify negative self-talk patterns and begin making healthy changes in your life. Knowing that I am worthy and deserving of love and happiness has given me the power to create a life I love.