Let’s improve low self-esteem together!
I’m slowly realizing that a healthy self-esteem should be one of my top priorities in life. Self-esteem isn’t determined by what you have, but it’s all about what you believe about yourself.
If I’m honest, low self-esteem has been the tune I’ve danced to for majority of my life. It’s prevented me from being consistent and believing the best about God, myself, and others.
I also struggled with why God wouldn’t bless me like others have said He would. It’s because God would rather bless us with the knowledge of whose we are and who we are before giving us material things.
If you have found yourself on this post, I would like to congratulate you for improving your low self-esteem. In Jesus name, it is already done.
Now let’s do the practical work together!
This post is all about how to improve low-self esteem.
Are you ready? Let’s geaux!
What Is Low Self-Esteem
Let me just say that if you have low self-esteem, this is the perfect place to be in. Building your self-esteem with your God-given identity is exactly what we’re going to do together.
Before we get into the thick of it, let’s talk about what low self-esteem is. Low self-esteem is when you have trouble believing in your God-given greatness.
It’s when you think low of yourself, your capabilities, when you feel as if you’re not good enough, and when you begin to see others as more superior or deserving than yourself.
Low self-esteem can affect your confidence, abilities in judgment, as well as your self-worth and respect. It can also show up in different ways that can trick you into believing that you’re not experiencing it based on what you have.
Remember self-esteem isn’t a matter of what you have, but it’s all about who God created you to be which is apart from your experiences in this world.
Now that you have an understanding of what low self-esteem is, let’s discuss the causes of it.
Did you know that Blissful-Faith has a podcast? Our episode “It’s okay to start again” is the perfect episode for you if you need to start again after self-sabotaging. Take a seat, listen, and receive encouragement from one bestie to another. Click the image below to check out the episode.
What Causes Low Self-Esteem
From the moment we’re born, we’re molded and shaped by the world around us.
Many of us grew up in environments where low self-esteem was the norm, while others have experienced moments where events made them question their worth.
There are an array of hardships that could’ve contributed to you having low-self esteem. For me, it started when I was sexually abused as a child and it was amplified even more through other traumatic experiences.
Maybe you grew up with a critical parent who tore you down or maybe you haven’t advanced in your career yet.
You could’ve been touched inappropriately and told to not say anything. Or maybe you were constantly rejected by those who claimed to love you.
As we go through life, these moments can make us feel alone and wonder if something is wrong with us. I’m here to say that you’re never alone and there is absolutely nothing wrong with you.
These pitfalls are evidence of God’s glory and the resilience He has put inside of you. None of these events have been able to destroy you and that’s the beauty of it.
Reflection Question: What if all of this happened so that you can understand who God is and who He has created you to be?
{RELATED POST: Rejection From Family: 7 Tips To Move Forward And Heal}
How To Identify Low Self-Esteem
Dealing with my difficult situations definitely took a toll on my self-esteem.
Without going through these difficulties however, I don’t think I would have been able to identify low self-esteem as easily as I did.
Here are some of the signs I noticed from my own experience:
1. Constant Feelings Of Unworthiness
Romans 8:31 NIV-What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Some questions to consider:
- Why don’t you feel like you’re worth it?
- Who told you that you’re unworthy?
- What made you believe that you’re not worth it?
- Do you think that others are more worthy than you? Why so?
- What did God already say about you?
None of the things that happened to to us will be the defining moments of our stories. We are still living and breathing because there’s more.
Even in the hurt and wanting to quit, God still has a plan that will prosper you and not harm you. One that grants a future and a hope(Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
If you are experiencing feelings of unworthiness, know that there is so much more in store for you and you will see brighter days. The days that you’ll experience will reign in joy, light, peace, patience, goodness, and so much more!
Let this encouragement be a spark to your hope.
Your greatest days are ahead of you, your family will become one again, and you and your children will speak again.
2. Seeking External Validation
Galatians 1:10 NIV-Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Some questions to consider:
- Who made you?
- What makes those your seeking validation from reputable?
- Why do you not believe what God already said of you?
- When did people become the defining factor of your life?
People’s opinions is like a feather compared to God’s eternal word about you.
Why are you so worried about being in the in crowd when you’re obviously meant to stand out?
3. Valuing Others
Mark 12:31 NIV-The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
Some questions to consider:
- Are you betraying yourself to please others?
- Do you worry about what others think of you constantly?
- Are you putting others before God?
- When is the last time you put yourself on hold to help someone else?
Loving your neighbor as yourself means is to actively loving yourself and the by product of loving yourself will overflow onto your neighbor.
And before you can love yourself, you have to love God. The main question we all need to consider is this one: What is love?
None of us are the Source of love so we can’t define it on our own.
Valuing yourself is a huge component of loving yourself.
4. Not Feeling Like You’re Enough
Matthew 6:24 NIV-No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Some questions to consider:
- What makes you feel that you’re not enough?
- When did these feelings start?
- What are these feelings based on? (Ex. Not having things/people or enough money)
Feeling like your enough will take time, but you have to decide what makes you enough. Will it be the things of this world or the truth spoken by God?
Honestly, it can’t be both because you can’t base your identity in God and the world. Allow God to help you know that you are enough in Him.
Feelings will always try to reign supreme, but they are your indicators and not your dictators.
5. Difficulty Making Your Own Decisions
Genesis 1:26 NIV-Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.
Some questions to consider:
- Have you always tried to hide in the background?
- What do you really believe about yourself?
- Are you afraid to make the wrong choices?
- Do you struggle with anxiety? What’s the root of it?
Making your own decisions is a part of your God-given nature. When He spoke that you would have dominion, He meant that you would have autonomy under His parameters.
Now that you’re on your path to improve your self-esteem, you get to practice making your own decisions.
It will feel daunting at first, but God is right there with you.
Your self-esteem is suuuuuuper important to God. I know it because I know what it’s like to try to put my self-esteem in something other than Him. Everything you are came from God and He wants a return on His own investment. Today I am asking that you invest in your self-esteem because Christ has salvaged it. If you’re ready to work on your self-esteem with Christ, I encourage you to click the image down below.
7 Keys To Improve Low Self-Esteem
One of the biggest lies of the enemy is that you are alone. Don’t listen to the negative thoughts or think that this is something to be ashamed of.
This is the perfect place for you to be in. Allow God to do His best work as you position yourself to receive.
Let these tips be your posture to receive all that He has for you.
This is the way you will partner with God and He improves your self-esteem in Him.
1. Get Alone With God
Acts 17:28 NIV-For in him we live and move and have out being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
When you look into a mirror, what do you see? Your image or your reflection right?
You can never truly be apart from your image therefore God remains close to you. You were designed to be one with God as you are with your reflection.
He’s not trying to control you. He wants to establish a solid relationship with you to show you the many benefits of obeying Him.
Everything God does is for his glory and your benefit because you’re an extension of Him.
2. Accept Where You Are
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV-There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
You just figured out and/or accepted that you’ve been living with low self-esteem. Take some time to sit and think about that in itself before rushing to try to fix yourself.
God wants to help you rediscover your identity in Him in order to build a solid foundation for your self-esteem. It’s okay for you to just be.
Don’t rush the process.
3. Practice Gratitude Daily
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NIV-Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Taking time to intentionally point out the beauty in your life can change your mindset. Practicing gratitude shifts your focus from what you lack to what you’ve had all along.
It isn’t just pointing out the physical things you possess, but it’s a way to thank God for the unseen as well.
Practicing gratitude daily can help you to appreciate the simple joys in life and improve your self-esteem.
The more you do it, the more you’ll realize you’ve always had more than enough.
{RELATED POST: Godly Habits: 9 Ways To Practice Gratitude}
4. Challenge Negative Self-Talk
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV-We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself p against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
What has your inner dialogue been like lately? We all have an inner cheerleader trapped behind that inner critic.
Challenging the negative self-talk silences the critic and trains it to be a cheerleader.
Whenever you catch yourself thinking negatively, challenge those thoughts with the word of God.
For example, if a thought says that you’re alone, you can challenge that thought by saying that God is always with you.
5. Practice Speaking Kindly To Yourself In The Mirror
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV-But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
There’s nothing like empowering yourself in the mirror! I know that compliments make you feel good so give yourself as many as you can.
Do you realize that you’re with you all day? Be kind to yourself.
Next time you are in the mirror, tell yourself that you look good even if you don’t like it.
This will give you a boost of confidence on especially on the days that you need it most.
6. Learn About Yourself
Psalm 8:5 NLT-Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowed them with glory and honor.
Wanna know something? Many people go to the grave without knowing who they are. Billionaires, housewives, truck drivers, football players, you name it.
It doesn’t matter how much money you have in the bank or how many things you achieve if you don’t know who you are.
The greatest tragedy in life is living without the knowledge of God and self.
Think about this for a moment. You live in a body your whole life without understanding how it functions.
What else do you not know about yourself?
7. Remind Yourself Of What God Said To You
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV-“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
This is where you get to think about your dream life. Remember when God said that He knows the plans He has for you?
I’m sure that He’s shared a little bit of that plan with you. He could’ve gave you a glimpse of your future through a vision, prophecy, dream, or a word.
Whatever God has spoken, believe and then know that it will happen for you.
Keep reminding yourself of what your Abba has spoken.
Improving low self-esteem with God will look a little different from what the world says. Remember your self-esteem isn’t predicated on what you have; it is based solely on whose you and who you are. You belong to Christ so that is where your self-esteem is found.
This post was all about how to improve low self-esteem.
If You Enjoyed This Post, You’ll Love These:
How To Have A Healthy Relationship With Yourself
Learning To Be Patient With Yourself
How To Practice Patience Everyday
Before You Go…Let’s Recap
A quick recap of how to identify low self-esteem:
- Constant feelings of unworthiness
- Seeking external validation
- Valuing others
- Not feeling like you’re enough
- Difficulty making your own decisions
As I write this, I am reminded of how I’ve placed my self-esteem in what I lacked and where I am, but God is so good that He allows chances to turn back to the truth. May you receive all that you need from this lesson in Jesus name. Amen.
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Always remember that you’re destined to win because He got up!
-Devyn Janae
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