February is International Boost Self-Esteem Month. According to the Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (2009), self-esteem is confidence in one’s worth, abilities, or morals. It includes beliefs about oneself and emotional states. In short, it is how you feel about yourself. Although self-esteem starts to develop in childhood, it evolves and changes throughout life based on your environment and life experiences.
Self-esteem is important because it influences decision-making, relationships, emotional health, and overall well-being. It can also impact your motivation because having a positive view of yourself helps you to understand your potential and seek new challenges. Finally, it helps in developing personal resilience. A strong sense of self-worth helps you to persevere when times are tough. Conversely, if your self-esteem is low, it can increase your risk of insecurity, self-doubt, depression, anxiety, and other unhealthy mental health conditions that limit opportunities for personal growth.
What can you do if you are suffering from low self-esteem? Your best bet is to contact a mental health professional for help and support. However, there are some self-care things you can do to improve your self-esteem. First, stop negative self-talk, as it can influence your external and internal perceptions. Pay attention to how critical you are of your thoughts and decisions, and when you have negative thoughts, challenge and change them. Second, recognize the things you can and cannot change. We all have flaws – learn to accept those you cannot change, but work to change those you can. Accepting them does not mean you like them, but it demonstrates that you acknowledge them and recognize that your positive characteristics outweigh your flaws. Next, celebrate your strengths. Take a moment each day to reflect on your strengths and how they have contributed to your accomplishments. Finally, practice self-care. Focus on your needs – sleeping and eating right, exercising, and participating in activities promoting peace, well-being, and joy.
February includes another mental health-related celebration – Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 9-15, 2025. Make a point that week to inspire and empower someone else for no other reason than to spread kindness. Kindness should be the norm, not the exception – especially for Rotarians. Pay it forward because you don’t know when you might need to be the recipient of a kind word or deed.