“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Lao Tzu
One’s self-esteem and success in business may seem like 2 unrelated topics. Yet, in reality, they are more deeply connected than most people realize. Succeeding in business when you have a low sense of self-esteem can be a daunting and formidable challenge.
You may doubt yourself and your capabilities. You may have an inferiority complex and feel like you are not worthy of success. You might be shy to sell or put yourself out there in the marketplace because you fear being judged.
Low self-esteem will trip you up and hold you down… and the worst part of it all will be that you are sabotaging yourself and you cannot help it. Or can you?
The good news is that low self-esteem can be fixed. It will not be easy and it will take time, but it can be done if you approach it proactively.
- Start a success journal
The first step you will need to take is to become aware of just how much you have won in life. No one is a loser their whole life. Dig deep and ask yourself when you have won at anything.
Have there ever been times when you accomplished a goal? A time when you proved the naysayers wrong? What compliments have you received from others which made you feel good?
Write it all down in your journal. What you are doing now is creating a ‘feel good bank’ that you can withdraw from when you are feeling down and discouraged. When you know what you have succeeded at before, you will know that future success is possible.
- Stop judging
This is one of the worst types of attitudes to have and yet, it is so prevalent in society. We judge others harshly, and we judge ourselves even more stringently. This judgmental attitude we constantly carry with us adds an astringent flavor to our worldview.
It makes us discontented, unhappy, aggressive, and self-righteous. If you want to improve your self-esteem, stop judging.
Instead, work on improving yourself and your situation. Let others do their thing. Not everything requires an opinion or a response from you, especially when it is negative and disempowering.
- Be kind to yourself
Engage in self-care every now and then. If you are working too hard, take a break for a day. Pressure may turn coal into diamonds, but it also turns it into dust.
It has been noted that people in highly competitive societies tend to develop low self-esteem over time. They are so busy comparing themselves with others that they feel like losers when they do not fare well against the competition.
True success means finding your own path and being the best you that you can be. If you do that, you will be the epitome of success and a legend in your own right. Truly successful people are only focused on beating their personal bests.
Stop comparing your skills, possessions, etc. with what others have. Be kind to yourself and know that you’re doing your best.
- Practice mindfulness
Initially, when you are trying to raise your self-esteem, you may slip into old patterns of negative thoughts and a detrimental state of mind. Immediately say, “Stop!” out loud.
This will transform your state. It may seem to be a weird practice but it works. Stopping yourself mid-thought will stop you from indulging in negativity for too long.
Now you may wish to say a few affirmations to bolster your belief in yourself. Over time, you will become more positive and have more faith in your abilities.
- Bury the past
Past mistakes, regrets, the time that you wasted, the negative behavior you displayed and all your previous flaws should be buried.
We are all human and you deserve a second chance. So, cast your baggage and burden aside and take a deep breath. You are not your past. You can do better.
Now have faith and do better. Remember the Lao Tzu quote, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
In conclusion, it is important to remember that you can do whatever you set your mind to and you deserve nothing but the best. Forget past mistakes and limitations.
Believe in yourself and work on achieving small goals. The more you achieve, the better your self-esteem will be. Success will serve as a reference point for you to draw faith from.
Then it is just a matter of going from one win to the next without any loss of optimism, no matter what challenge presents itself. That is how you raise your self-esteem… and it can be done. Do it today.
