I found this information on a website recently - thought I'd share.

There are many things you can do to improve your self esteem. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

* Focus on your achievements - if you take time to think you will realise that you have achieved so many things in your life. It doesn't matter what these achievements are only that they are important to you. List them and remember what they meant to you. It doesn't matter what you think about your life at present if you are honest with yourself you will make a long list and that will make you feel good. Every small thing you are proud of should be added to your list. The fact that you are focusing on positives will also help you to increase your level of self esteem.


* Make plans for the future - following from above the next thing to do is stop wasting time and procrastinating get planning! What would you like to do but felt you couldn't? Time to decide for yourself that you will do it now! Make a list of things you want to do or want to change and start thinking about how to make a start. Then take a breath and just begin. you won't look back!


* Figure out what you like about yourself - if you have low self esteem you probably keep reflecting on the things you don't like about yourself but if you reverse this thinking it is much more helpful. What do your friends like about you? Have you ever asked yourself that or even better, have you ever asked them? After you have listed all the things you like about yourself then the negative things seem smaller and less harmful.


* Decide what can you change that will make you feel better about yourself? - There are two kinds of changes you may wish to focus on. The first are changes in your life and how you live it. Ask yourself are you happy in your job? Is it satisfying? Is there something else you'd rather do? What about your relationships or your social life? If you would like to be more assertive for example then start working on that immediately. Click on this link to get Assertiveness Training - a really helpful self hypnosis download that will help you enormously. Whatever it is that you feel you need to change then go ahead and do it. this will make you feel more in control of your life and your self esteem will begin to pick up.


* Accept yourself and who you are - there are many things about your personality and character and your life that you may not be able to change and that shouldn't hold you back. Learn to accept those things and understand why you can still be happy and feel good about yourself despite these things. Try saying - well at least I am reasonably well off or at least whatever you can think of that is positive. At least turns a negative into a positive.