Many struggle with a lowered self-esteem in today’s world because they choose to accept an old tarnished view of themselves.
Here are some things to keep the new self-polished:
Remember that God designed you perfectly. See yourself as one of a kind.
- Choose to view yourself as God views you by telling yourself these or other truths:
- I am a child of God (Jn. 1.12)
- I am justified and redeemed (Rom. 3.24)
- I am not condemned by God (Rom. 8.1)
- I am accepted (Rom. 15.7)
- I am not a slave, but an heir to Heaven (Gal. 4.7)
- I am forgiven of all (Ephesians 1)
- I am a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5.17)
- I am set free in Christ (Gal. 5.1)
- I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God (Eph. 1.4)
- I am a citizen of Heaven (Phil. 3.20)
- I was darkness, but now I am light in the Lord (Eph. 5.8)
- I am holy and beloved (Col. 3.12)
- I am loved and chosen by God (1 Thess. 1.4)
- Be an explorer...find out who you really are and develop a positive, realistic snapshot of who you are.
- Set goals and achieve them.
- Surround yourself with friends that are positive and grounded; choose carefully.
- Avoid comparing yourself to others.
- Read the Bible and pray often.
- Initiate random acts of kindness and/or intentionally serve someone else; get outside yourself.
- Look for positive signs of God’s love for you throughout the day.
- Be realistic. Everyone gets into slumps. Know pick-me-up verses and promises to carry you through, such as: 2 Cor. 4.8-9, Is. 41.10, Ps. 43.5.
- Don’t procrastinate...it leads to negative attitudes and failures.
- Develop an attitude of gratitude, seeing each day new and its blessings as unique and precious.
- Focus on what is positive in life.
- Learn to laugh at yourself; don’t take yourself so seriously.
- Say “no” to negative influences: people, stories, thoughts.
- Take responsibility for your attitude. Don’t be content with “this is just the way I am” or blame others/situations for your circumstances/attitude.