How to build high self-esteem

Hypnosis can help you build your self-esteem.

What is low self-esteem?

Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself. Low self-esteem is when you have a low opinion of yourself. In this, it contrasts with low self-confidence which is your opinion of what you think you can’t do.

Many people suffer from low self-esteem. It often begins during our school days, especially with the unrealistic notion that no one must fail. This results not in each child feeling good about him or herself, but paradoxically, in more and more children suffering from low self-esteem.

This is because non-accomplishment yields a negative self-image. And the self-esteem of those children who have achieved good academic scores is undermined because of the “no failure” policy. How important can good grades be when everyone passes regardless of how poorly they perform?

Symptoms of low self-esteem:

• people pleasing

• sarcasm

• false confidence

• fear of being alone

• shyness.

People pleasing may be a symptom of low self-esteem. Its opposite – people using, manifested by utter selfishness coupled with arrogance – may likewise be a symptom but those who display this kind of behaviour rarely seek help.

Sarcasm pops out of the mouths of people with low self-esteem despite their desperate need to be liked by others. It’s paradoxically a self-sabotaging way to keep others at a distance.

False confidence is a fake front that a person with low self-esteem may establish to conceal his or her inner shame.

Fear of being alone intensifies the sense of unworthiness which leads to an intensification of low self-esteem.

Shyness is partly a fear of being found out. That is, “I’d better stay to myself otherwise people will find out what a horrible person I am.”

— Dr Bryan M. Knight, MSW, PhD