FeelingGoodWithSofy

Hey everyone! 😊

We all need this powerful tool: self-esteem. It helps us to recognize our own value. In this wellness and mental-health post, I’ll talk about self-esteem, its importance, and I’ll also share a bit of my story.❤️

Trigger Warning: If you’re going through a difficult time, this article might be a bit hard to read, although a great part of it is motivational and positive. The decision to keep reading is entirely yours and no one else’s!❤️

Do you, or have you ever, had trouble with your self-esteem? If that’s the case, do not worry, because YOU ARE NOT ALONE!❤️

What does SELF-ESTEEM mean?

At its core, self-esteem, is a fundamental belief in your own value and self-worth. It represents how you think about yourself, reflecting whether you consider yourself worthy and deserving of respect—from yourself, first and foremost.❤️

An important reminder: I am no doctor or mental health professional; I am speaking to you as a patient who has been living with this experience for many years. therefore, what I am sharing are my personal insights and experiences, not professional medical advice.

From high self-esteem to no self-esteem at all

• There are people who have a high self-esteem, who have positive feelings about themselves, and treat themselves with respect. They are commonly not afraid to show their weaknesses to others. Even though nobody is perfect, people with high self-esteem still have their own problems; it doesn’t mean they do not have obstacles along their journey.

• Then there are those who have medium self-esteem, who respect themselves enough to live a healthy life and have confidence in their abilities, but their self-talk isn’t strong enough to say: ‘I did a good job today, bravo!’ or ‘I deserve a really nice treat after this heavy workout!’ They may acknowledge their accomplishments, but rarely, if ever, celebrate them fully.

• Now let’s talk about the people who have low self-esteem: the constant struggle to accept themselves, the difficulty in receiving compliments, and the resulting avoidance of situations that cause inner discomfort. When you have low self esteem, as I do, you tend to avoid situations that trigger this internal distress or vulnerability. This avoidance can even lead to feeling ashamed when someone acknowledges you’ve successfully managed periods of pain. For example, I sometimes can get angry when people say to me I did this thing right and I can not take that compliment, such as all my years in school.

• We’ve discussed high, medium and low self-esteem. Now, it’s time to discuss those with severely low self-esteem (or no existent self-worth). These individuals have no trust in themselves at all; they could lose complete confidence and, as a result, simply give up. Similar to those with low self-esteem, this condition often stems from a history of trauma, negative events, or persistent difficult life circumstances.

An ongoing journey

Honestly, even though I’m working on my self-esteem, sometimes I can still find myself losing complete confidence and struggling to keep going. Instead of finding the bright spots in myself, I punish myself by saying mean things to me.

Sharing a bit of my story…❤️

My self-esteem truly started to decrease when I began primary school, especially after realizing I faced significant academic difficulties. Some of the teachers didn’t understand me at all, and since I am highly sensitive, they would often scream at me, which often brought tears to my eyes and fueled a strong willingness to give up. Once, at the age of 6, a teacher moved my small table near her desk, and I felt so humiliated. She did this because I struggled with the Italian exercise, and she gave me reprimands in front of the entire classroom.

An Episode I Still Remember

I was 10 years old, attending one of my first sessions with my first psychologist. She gave me a task related to self-esteem, but when she noticed I had nothing to contribute, she asked, ‘What are you good at?’ I really tried to think but nothing came to mind.

What was the task? She gave me a blank paper listing three words written: my dad’s, my mom’s and my sister’s. She told me to give this paper to them so they could write down my values. I was literally speechless when I got back the paper.

You Can Reclaim Your Self-Esteem, No Matter What!❤️

No matter how low your self-esteem is, you’re still in time to regain your self- confidence, even if it takes years of practice. When you also struggle with mental disorders, the battle becomes harder and more complicated. This is certainly my experience; I believe many others feel the same way.

One of the first steps you can take is to seek professional help, especially when you feel consistently unvalued and unworthy. A psychologist, for example, can help you reclaim that lost confidence by understanding the roots of your inner distress and guiding you toward a better, greater self-undertanding.

Another common strategy for boosting your self-esteem is to write down in your diary, for example, powerful, uplifting mantras, affirmations each day. Even better, follow up by saying these positive words aloud to yourself.

For example, you could use: ‘Where there is self-destruction, let me see understanding, Where there is pain, let me see love and light. Or: ‘I am capable of achieving this today’s goal because I am limitless and good!’

It’s time to conclude this article; it’s clear that this theme is a vast and complex subject. Given the depth of this topic, I’ll certainly create a part two in the future. So, stay tuned! :)❤️

I’ll leave you with this essential topic to reflect on, along with a powerful quote:

‘You are worthy to be who you are. You are more than enough—believe it or not!’❤️

Much Love and Light ❤️✨

Sofia Lena 😊

Post not sponsored