I realized that I waste my precious time on Instagram scrolling through my homepage for countless hours. I catch myself doing this almost every day and it got me thinking. Do I use Instagram to compare myself to others? I tend to obsess over new trends on what my peers are doing, even if I do not like it because the fear of being judged scares me. Everyone says “to be more confident”, but how can you get it?
One could simply just hide in their room and watch Netflix all day, under the blanket, to avoid human contact, but humans by nature are social creatures. We like to be around other people. Ideally, we can surround ourselves with people that have similar aspirations to boost our self-esteem, but it’s not quick to achieve. If negativity builds up over time, the outcome will affect our-self esteem and cause us to envy and judge other people, which is unhealthy. There’s so much good in the world that we should not have to think or say negative ideas as a way to feel good about ourselves.
So here are some ways to help boost your self-esteem and avoid negativity!
1. Be aware of your environment.
Everyone encounters different people and respond to different emotions. If we see someone we don’t find appealing, we feel hate, embarrassment, guilt, jealousy, envy, or shame. Everyone has to deal with their own problems, so showering negativity onto others does not help solve your personal problems. Blaming others for your faults or envying lifestyles from peers will not improve your own life, because it is yours, not theirs. Any easy way to prevent this action is to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on what makes you happy.
2. Be mindful.
Sometimes we get carried away with obsessing over our mistakes and failures. This is toxic and can easily distract you from realizing how awesome you really are! Any time you get this self-doubt or negative talk in your head, just remember they are only thoughts, not facts. You should not believe everything you think, thoughts are thoughts. Comparisons only lead to negative talk, which can lead to anxiety and stress. This low self-worth can ruin all the good aspects of your life. Focus on things that make you personally happy and build upon that feeling and ignore all the negative thoughts.
3. Give a boost to your mood.
You can promote feelings of power and positivity with simply listening to something with deep base. Before a test, special date, or when I am sad, I like to listen to Beyoncé and channel my inner girl power to achieve success. All her songs make me want to strike a pose, smile and conquer the world. Just try listening to your favorite song to get rid of that unwanted feeling and just work it!
4. Recognize inner worth.
Learn to love your imperfect self! Create and establish a secure foundation for growth in your life. In his book, Self-Esteem Workbook, Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D., says, “With that security, you will feel free to grow with enjoyment, not fear of failure – because failure does not change core worth.” We all will encounter challenges and failures, but like what Big Sean says, “Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back.” If you fall, get back up and keep growing in life. With hard work and self-compassion, negative thoughts and belief will disappear.
So don’t let anyone tell you to be more confident because you are powerful and capable to achieve greatness! Spread the positive love and keep bouncing on in life.