Be Your Own Advocate: 5 Ways to Stand Up for Yourself

Do you feel like you don’t have enough confidence in yourself? Do you have difficulty standing up for yourself, or have difficulty persevering through difficult situations? This may be due to low self-esteem.

Having good self-esteem enables you to persevere through frustrating tasks, set goals for yourself, make good decisions in the face of difficult situations, and choose positive relationships over negative ones.

You play an integral part in creating and enhancing your own self-esteem.

Think of yourself like a coach. Your inner dialogue become the tape that loops through your mind, guiding your actions and influencing how you feel. So what you say to yourself matters!

So how can you improve your own self-esteem? Keep reading below for five valuable statements that you should frequently say to yourself to help boost your self-esteem.

1. I HAVE A VOICE AND IT’S OK TO USE IT.

   How it boosts self-esteem: Being able to communicate thoughts and feelings are important! When you say what’s on your mind, you’re letting others know your words matter. So when you need to say no and set boundaries, remind yourself that it’s more than ok to speak those words. 

2. I AM SUPPORTED.

   How it boosts self-esteem: As isolating as the world can feel at times, you are not without support. If you can remember you are not alone, you will feel more empowered to reach out for help and conquer whatever is in your way.

3. IT’S OK TO HAVE DIFFICULT FEELINGS.

   How it boosts self-esteem: Uncomfortable and difficult feelings tend to get stuffed down and labeled as “not OK.” I bet you think to yourself “I shouldn’t feel this way,” in an attempt to make yourself feel better, but then you end up feeling worse about yourself. When you give yourself permission to accept those difficult feelings, you’re giving yourself permission to accept yourself.

4. I AM LOVED.

   How it boosts self-esteem: Sometimes this message gets lost in the daily minutia. Do you really check in with yourself to really feel that self-love? Feeling cared for gives your mind peace and stability, allowing you to flourish and grow. So take some time and remind yourself you are loved, either by important people in your life, or at minimum, by yourself. 

5. I AM PERFECT THE WAY I AM.

   How it boosts self-esteem: You live in a world where there are constant messages from family, friends, bosses, peers, and social media that you have to do better, be better, look better. These messages can really be a blow to your self-esteem. You shouldn’t minimize your natural talents, abilities, and characteristics that make you…well, you. Remind yourself you don’t have to change in order to fit in.

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   Jenmarie Eadie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is passionate about empowering women to take control of their mental health by finding balance and inner peace in the midst of perfectionism and anxiety. She received her Master’s in Social Work from Arizona State with a concentration in Behavioral Health. Her proudest accomplishment is following her dream of opening up a practice focused on helping high-achieving, goal-oriented women. She currently serves women in California and Oregon (CA LCSW# 66634 and OR# L13328).