Low self esteem; Finding a way out!

Low self esteem is that state of having a negative perception or opinion about your self. Alot of individuals battle with low self esteem and some may not even know the extent of the impact of low self esteem on their mental health and their life output in general.

source

As someone who battled with low self esteem for along time, today, I wish I knew better or reacted better with the way I saw myself. I was an Intelligent young girl who was beautiful. I may not be drop dead gorgeous but I knew I at least had a beautiful face but one thing lacked with me.

I was of small stature and I have a baby face. Even as a full blown adult, my age has always been a subject of controversy due to my small stature and that was where my problem began.

My small stature made me have a very low esteem. It made me not to be seen among my equals couples with the fact that I was a stammerer. The stammering has reduced drastically over the years but the small stature still remains.

Due to my small stature, I had to think of ways to increase my height alittle and it made me always wear heel shoes. It was so bad that my lowest heel shoe was a wedge of about four inches. Some years ago when I was in my early twenties, I remember a senior colleague telling me that I wear heels a lot and that it’s not good.

I proudly told her that it feels like a flat shoe to me and that 4inches wedge sandals was my lowest heel and my walk about. When I mean my walk about, I mean it’s the shoe I use for my regular random normal movements.

The only flat slippers I had was my bathroom slippers which I used for bathing only. If for any reason i would have to leave my house, then am getting onto one of those heel shoes.

It was so bad that one of those days, I wore one of my six inches slippers all the way from my house to school. I was walking on it comfortable for over a thirty minutes walk to school. I also took pictures that same day. I was looking glam and feeling myself little did I know my lack of self esteem would get the better of me.

It’s been so many years of wearing heels that the only thing that cured me of this self esteem was the ankle pain I developed later as I advanced in age. It got so bad that I can’t stand in a heel shoes for twenty minutes without feeling pains.

I stand for long and my plantar fascia is in pains. I had to give out all my heel shoes and go for flat ones. If for any reason I have to wear heel shoe, it would have to be block heels and they must be low heels. When I see young ladies flaunting themselves on high heels, I try to caution them.

It took pains to Purge low self esteem from me. I had to start embracing who I am. I had always complained to everyone who cared to listen that I don’t like my stature. I wished I was taller or curvier or fairer and etc.
source

It was only until last year, that I began to be grateful to God after all for how he made me. I have come to see myself from the eyes of my maker. I can never be better than I am now. I am beautiful. I am wonderfully and fearfully made.

I am done with low self esteem but I learnt the hard way. Low self esteem can manifest in many ways;

• The feeling of shyness or anxiety around others.
• Always thinking of yourself as not capable
• Lack of confidence and always doubting yourself
• Having difficulty in achieving goals, both short term or long term due to much self doubt
• Unfavorable comparisons of yourself with others
• Finding it difficult to accept compliments from people.

There are practical ways of dealing with low self esteem;

• Learning to treat yourself with compassion will go along way or what I call self love. You didn’t make yourself the way you are so learn to admire, love and accept yourself.
• Take charge of your thoughts and challenge negative thought patterns and replace them with positive thoughts.
• Focus on your strengths; on what you have and not what’s lacking
• Build positive relationships and surround yourself with people who would love and appreciate you for who you are
• On extreme cases, seek professional help.

Well, am loving my young old self, I let people argue about my age and not give a bother. I accept my size and celebrate it with outmost enthusiasm. I love my fine baby face and couldn’t have asked for better. Love yourself while making space for growth. Say no to low self esteem!

Posted Using INLEO