How to Start Raising Your Self-Esteem

I remember doing a Self-Esteem exercise while I was studying to become a coach. What I loved about the Noble Manhattan Coaching training was that we had to do all work on ourselves. 
Talk about furthering your own personal growth and development.
How could I work with clients if I had did not know and experience all the growth myself.
I loved the changes that I was making to my own behaviour patterns as I was learning how to apply them professionally.

16 years later I still believe it to be the best coach training - even if I had not become a professional coach. The benefits from doing the work for myself improved the quality of my personal and professional life no end and still does.

Self-esteem evaluation Exercise
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​Answer the following questions, giving each one a score out of 10 using the following scale:
Totally agree with the statement
Completely disagree
​

1. My experience in life has taught me to value and appreciate myself   …                
2. I have a good opinion of myself   …                                                              
3. I treat myself well and look after myself properly   …                                                            
4. I like myself   …                                                                                                           
5. I give as much weight to my qualities, skills, assets and strengths as I do to my weaknesses and flaws   …                                                                                          
6. I feel good about myself   …                                                                          
7. I feel I am entitled to success and the good things in life   …                                                
8. My expectations of myself are no more rigid or exacting than my expectations of other people …                                                                                          
9. I am kind and encouraging towards myself rather than self critical   …      
   
   

Add up your total score:  .....                                                              
 
As it is out of a total possible high score of 10 you will gain an insight into where your self-esteem is at. ​
If you want to start with some self-coaching consider these thoughts:
​​

A few of the Characteristics of Low Self-Esteem:

• Frequently critical of others.
• Staying with what you know … within your comfort zone.
• Seeing the negative before you see the good.
• Not taking care of your mind, body and soul.
• Feeling shy.
• Telling yourself “I do not care” when in fact you know you do care.
• Believing you are not as good as others.
• Frustration and anger surfacing for no apparent reason.
• Worrying about what other people might think about you.

If you experience any of these low self esteem signs consider improving the way you see yourself. Self-Esteem and Self Worth are closely connected. If you feel you are worth it you will automatically have increased self-esteem.
​
Some of the Benefits of raising your Self-Esteem:

• More confidence therefore more courageous.
• Be more resilient.
• Enjoy better quality relationships.
• Spend less time worrying.
• Discover what is outside of the box, i.e your comfort zone – dare to go there!
• Less fearful of the unknown.
• Enjoy more strength through knowing you can handle it.
  
  

Good ‘Tools’ / Life skills to Acquire to Start Improving your Self-Esteem:

• Keep track of how often you put yourself down with negative self-talk. Once you are more aware it will be easier to slowly change that pattern.
• Clear out the clutter: Choose friends that are positive, supportive and  who see the good in you. Avoid critical friends.
• Accept the fact that NOBODY is perfect, you do not have to be either!
• Live with integrity: Adhere to your moral and ethical principles.

​One way to start  is by exploring these three questions. Make lists.

1. What do you praise yourself for?
2. What do you criticize yourself for?
3. HOW would it change your life if you were to be less critical of yourself?

For more exercises check out 'Balance - A Practical Handbook for Life's Difficult Moments' 

article by Suzie Doscher - Life Coach focusing on Personal Development and Executive Coach, Self-Help Author

Photo by Chela B. on Unsplash, Photo by Usman Yousaf on Unsplash and Ivan Bertalozzi on Unsplash

Self-Help Book full of insights and self-coaching exercises:
BALANCE -
A Practical Handbook for Life's Difficult Moments by Suzie Doscher