Do you ever feel like other people are just better than you in every way? Even though your friends might not seem to have any obvious advantages over you, it’s hard not to feel inferior when they all seem to be thriving in ways that you are not. It can be difficult to recognize low self esteem, especially if you struggle with it on a daily basis.
Low self-esteem is different from having low confidence or being shy; these are situations where someone has more negative feelings about themselves than they should. Instead, low self-esteem is a belief that you simply aren’t good enough as you currently are. It’s also not an uncommon phenomenon, as many people struggle with their self-worth at some point in their life. Keep reading to learn 9 signs of Low Self Esteem that you might be suffering from.
What Is Low Self-Esteem?
A poor self-perception and a lack of self-worth are symptoms of low self esteem. It is defined as having a poor opinion of oneself, evaluating oneself harshly, and not having high esteem for oneself. People with low self esteem may experience shyness or anxiety around others, believe they are incompetent, and severely judge themselves.
What Causes Low Self-Esteem?
Various factors, including negative past experiences, social comparisons, and cultural and societal messages, can cause low self-esteem. Trauma, abuse, neglect, and bullying can lead to negative beliefs about oneself and result in low self-esteem. Constant social comparisons through social media and societal pressure to meet certain standards can also contribute to feeling inadequate and having low self-worth. Additionally, cultural and societal messages that emphasize certain physical, financial, or other attributes as desirable can lead to feeling as if one does not measure up, which can result in low self-esteem. In order to improve low self-esteem, it is essential to identify and challenge negative beliefs, practice self-compassion, and surround oneself with supportive people.
9 Signs of Low Self-Esteem
In order to combat low self esteem and build self-confidence, a person needs to know the signs of low self esteem. It becomes more complex, tricky, and sometimes impossible if you don’t know about them. Understanding the problems helps a person to find the solution. So, let’s discuss the low self esteem symptoms and signs.
Frequent Apologies, Even When Not at Fault
When you are constantly apologizing for who you are, it’s a sign that you don’t value yourself. People with high self-esteem don’t apologize for who they are; they apologize for their actions. For example, if you spill someone’s drink at a party, you might apologize for the accident. However, if you have low self esteem, you might apologize for being clumsy and spilling the drink in the first place. Remember: You don’t need to apologize for who you are. You are who you are, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. So, don’t apologize for the fact that you were born as you were.
Indecisiveness in Everyday Choices
People with low self esteem often struggle to make decisions, especially when the decision will impact them personally. This is because when you have low self esteem, you tend to be more focused on how others will react to your choices than how you feel about them. If you find yourself constantly putting off big decisions because you’re worried about what people will think, you might be suffering from low self esteem. If you’re having trouble making decisions, try to focus on yourself first. Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? What are your core values? Trust your instincts, and make a decision that feels right for you.
Lack of Self-confidence
When you have low self-confidence, you don’t believe that you have the ability to succeed at whatever you try to do. This can cause you to have difficulty finding satisfaction in your daily life, as you’re always waiting for the day when you finally feel like you’re good enough. You might have low self-confidence if you constantly minimize your own talents or if you find yourself comparing yourself to others. Almost everyone struggles with low self-confidence at some point in their life. It’s important to remember that you’re not comparing yourself to other people when you are trying new things. Instead, you’re comparing how you do on a particular day.
Comparing Oneself Unfavorably to Others
Negative social comparison is when you compare your life to others and find it lacking, especially in comparison to people you believe are more successful than you are. This type of comparison is often linked to low self-esteem, and it can be a destructive habit because it’s rarely an accurate reflection of reality. When you find yourself comparing your life to others, take a step back and look at the situation objectively. Are your comparisons accurate? Or are you focusing on the wrong aspects of the situation?
Self-criticism That’s Often Harsh
I’m not going to get any better at this.”, “It’s too complicated,” “I don’t deserve to be happy,” “Being positive doesn’t work.”. It’s common for people who have low self-esteem to engage in negative self-talk. It’s also possible for people to demean themselves either internally or externally or to be harsh or unforgiving when they make mistakes. Not only is negative self-talk stressful, but it can actually stop you from succeeding.
Discomfort With Compliments or Positive Recognition
People who struggle with low self-esteem often have a hard time accepting positive feedback. This can be because you don’t believe the feedback is accurate, or it can be because you don’t see yourself as deserving of the praise. If you have trouble accepting compliments, try to think about the situation objectively. Ask yourself why you aren’t accepting the feedback. Is there something you are overlooking? Or are you just being too hard on yourself?
Persistent Self-doubt
If you constantly doubt yourself, it’s likely that you have low self-esteem. This is because a person with high self-esteem has a natural confidence that they are able to achieve whatever they set out to do. They can also recognize that mistakes are part of being human and not a reflection of who they are as a person. People with low self-esteem find it difficult to have faith in themselves and their abilities. Instead, they are constantly second-guessing themselves and looking for mistakes that they might make.
Read how to overcome self doubt
Apprehension About Failing
If you fear failure, you might have low self-esteem. This is because people with low self-esteem tend to focus on the negative outcome of their decisions. As a result, they often fear taking risks because they are too focused on potential failure. You may want to consider re-evaluating your fear of failure. Are your fears based on reality? Or are you letting your low self-esteem get the best of you? Are you letting your fear of failure keep you from achieving your goals? If so, you might want to talk to a therapist about how to overcome your fears.
Self-worth Dependent on Achievements or Outcomes
People with low self-esteem often tie their self-worth to their performance. This means that you see your self-esteem increasing or decreasing depending on how well you do at what you’re trying to accomplish. If you tie your self-esteem to your performance, try to detach yourself from your accomplishments. Let go of the idea that you are valuable based on what you can do. Instead, focus on who you are as a person.
How to Overcome Low Self Esteem?
Overcoming low self-esteem can be challenging, but it is possible with the right tools and mindset. Here are some helpful tips and points that can help:
- Identify and challenge negative thoughts: Negative thoughts can perpetuate low self-esteem. Recognize these thoughts and challenge them with evidence that contradicts them.
- Practice self-compassion: Be kind and understanding to yourself as you would be to a friend.
- Set realistic goals: Accomplishing small goals can boost self-esteem and give a sense of accomplishment.
- Seek professional assistance: A therapist or counselor may assist you in resolving underlying difficulties and can also offer extra self-esteem-boosting tactics.
- Be kind to yourself: Be kind and gentle with yourself, remind yourself that you are doing the best you can, and focus on your positive qualities.
- Build self-confidence through learning new skills or taking up a new hobby.
- Stay away from toxic people and negative influences; they can bring you down and affect your self-esteem.
By incorporating these strategies, you can work towards improving your self-esteem and feeling more confident in yourself and your abilities.
Conclusion
People with low self-esteem often struggle to find happiness in their daily life. This can be due to the fact that they are constantly putting themselves down and comparing themselves to others. If you are struggling with low self-esteem, it is important to recognize the signs and speak with a therapist about how you can overcome them.
