5 Self-Esteem Boosters for Women

Let’s be honest, ladies: we can definitely be our own worst enemies when it comes to self-esteem. Whether you hear your mother’s voice in your head, asking if you’re really going to wear that out of the house, there’s a devil on your shoulder telling you your sister or best friend would look better in the outfit you’re wearing, or you envision TLC’s ‘What Not to Wear’ hosts, Stacy and Clinton, ripping your sad-sack clothing to shreds (both figuratively and literally), the truth is that you are prone to criticizing yourself (no matter whose voice you ascribe the down-dressing to). But you and you alone have the power to turn your frown upside down. With a few simple tips and tricks up your sleeve you can learn to love the skin you’re in and become the proud and beautiful woman you always wanted to be (and probably always have been). Here are a few suggestions you’ll definitely want to try in order to boost your self-esteem.

1. Affirmations. What do you think when you look in the mirror? My hips are too wide; my legs are covered in cellulite, my nose is too big; my eyes are too close together. What if you made a concerted effort to see not your perceived flaws, but your favorite features instead? Can you imagine how that might change your whole outlook for the day? If you have trouble doing this, write Post-It notes with affirmations like “I love my smile” or “other women would kill for my curves” and stick them on the mirror. Then repeat them out loud until you start to believe them! If you’re stuck, ask your friends for help. They can no doubt give you a laundry list of things they love about you, and their compliments should provide you with a pretty big boost, as well.
2. Exercise. There’s no two ways about it: exercise makes you look and feel better. For one thing you’ll get the mood-boosting serotonin that comes from regular workouts. And as you start to tone up you’ll find that your clothes fit better and your body performs when you tell it to move. But doing something that’s just for you, spending that half an hour a day hitting the treadmill, lifting weights, joining a class, or even walking with friends, can really benefit your self-esteem. This is especially true once you start to see the results of your hard work.
3. Therapy. Self-esteem issues can be serious, and there are instances when women simply can’t overcome them alone. You may not have the knowledge and tools you need to see how beautiful, wonderful, and valuable you are as a human being. But a qualified therapist can help you get to the root of whatever is holding you back and help you to see your inherent worth.
4. Setting goals. It’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut, working a thankless job, caring for kids and managing a household, and generally neglecting our own wants and needs out of some kind of misplaced sense of obligation to everyone else in our lives. But if you’re doing nothing to enrich and fulfill yourself, it’s only a matter of time before your self-esteem suffers. So set yourself a goal and plan out the steps to reach it. You might decide to train for a 5K, take an art class, start a book club, or otherwise spend your time in a personal pursuit. You could even plan to do something a little different, like going skydiving, signing up for a martial arts course, or learning how to change the oil in your car – so long as it’s just for you.
5. Makeover. You might be amazed by what a new cut and color, some seasonal makeup, and a few new outfits can do for your self-esteem. And you could take it a step further by getting veneers or having a few Botox or Restylane injections. You might even seek out successful plastic surgeons in Louisville Kentucky or Los Angeles to get a bit of lipo or create the cup size you’ve always wanted. There are many paths to looking and feeling great. You just need to find the methods that work best for you so that you can get on track with loving yourself.