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As human beings, we all have a self-esteem that shapes our perception of ourselves and our environment. This perception can have profound effects on our lives, whether personal or professional. Scientific research has shown that people with high self-esteem tend to be more resilient and better able to adapt to change, while those with low self-esteem may find it difficult to cope with life's challenges.

Family environment, life experiences and social relationships are factors that can influence self-esteem. People who have grown up in an environment where they were constantly criticized or devalued may develop low self-esteem in adulthood. Traumatic or humiliating experiences can also have a negative impact on self-esteem.

As an entrepreneur or worker, it's crucial to have strong, healthy self-esteem. It can affect our self-confidence, motivation and ability to achieve our professional goals. People with good self-esteem tend to be more confident, handle stress better and have greater resilience. This can translate into greater productivity and professional success.

It's important to work on our self-esteem to improve our well-being and quality of life. This can include exploring our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves, as well as finding ways to strengthen our self-esteem. We can focus on our strengths rather than our weaknesses, surround ourselves with positive and supportive people, and set achievable goals to help us feel more competent.

In short, self-esteem is an important aspect of our lives, both personally and professionally. If you have concerns about your self-esteem, it's essential to seek help from a mental health professional to discuss them further. By working on our self-esteem, we can improve our well-being and professional success, and reach our full potential as individuals.

That's all very interesting information, but you're probably wondering how to improve your self-confidence in practical terms. Researchers and psychologists have identified ten essential elements to achieve this. I've done some in-depth research on the subject, and now I'd like to offer you a compilation of these key elements.

Self-compassion as a foundation

Self-compassion and positive thinking are key practices for improving our self-esteem as entrepreneurs or remote workers. By being kind to ourselves and accepting our mistakes as part of the learning process, we can become more resilient in the face of adversity and have higher self-esteem.

However, it can be difficult to practice self-compassion and positive thinking if we are constantly plagued by negative thoughts about ourselves. That's why it's important to become aware of these thoughts and understand why we constantly criticize ourselves. Sometimes these negative thoughts are the result of deep-seated beliefs we have about ourselves, such as seeing ourselves as an imposter or feeling incompetent.

To become aware of these negative thoughts, we can start by keeping a diary of our thoughts for a week or two. By writing down every time we have a negative thought about ourselves, we can begin to spot recurring patterns and themes. Once we've identified these negative thoughts, we can begin to examine them critically to understand where they're coming from and whether there are any elements of truth in them, or whether they're simply limiting beliefs.

En réfléchissant à nos pensées négatives et en examinant leur validité, nous pouvons commencer à les remplacer par des pensées plus positives et constructives. Par exemple, si nous avons une pensée négative comme « je ne suis pas assez compétent pour ce travail », nous pouvons la remplacer par une pensée positive comme « je suis peut-être encore en train d’apprendre, mais je suis capable de faire ce travail ».

Ultimately, practicing self-compassion and positive thinking can help boost our self-esteem as entrepreneurs or remote workers. By becoming aware of our negative thoughts and working to replace them with positive ones, we can feel more confident and capable of meeting the professional challenges that come our way.

Identify your qualities and strengths

One of the first steps to success in life is knowing who you are and what you can bring to the world. To do this, it's important to take the time to identify your qualities and strengths. This may sound easy, but it can often be difficult, as we are often our own critics.

To get started, take a few minutes each day to think about what you've done well or what's made you proud of yourself. Write down anything that comes to mind, no matter how small it may seem. It could be things like being good at listening to others, being creative, being organized or being a trustworthy person.

Once you've made a list of your qualities and strengths, read it regularly. By reading it often, you can boost your self-confidence and remind yourself that you're capable of achieving great things. You can also share your list with friends and family for feedback.

Finally, don't forget that your qualities and strengths may change over time. Be sure to review your list regularly to make sure you're still in tune with your current values and goals.

Taking the time to identify your qualities and strengths can be a revealing and rewarding process. By regularly writing down and reading about your qualities, you can boost your self-confidence and help yourself achieve your personal and professional goals.

Avoid comparisons with others

It's natural to want to compare our lives with those of others, but this can have negative effects on our emotional well-being and self-esteem. To avoid this tendency, we should focus on our own personal goals and achievements. It's essential to remember that each person is unique, with his or her own strengths and weaknesses.

Constant comparison with others can negatively affect our mental health and emotional well-being. It can reduce our self-esteem, increase our anxiety and lead to jealousy and unhealthy behavior.

When we constantly compare ourselves to others, we can feel a sense of inferiority that affects our self-confidence and self-esteem. We may also worry about not measuring up to others and begin to doubt our abilities. Comparison with others can lead to feelings of anxiety and insecurity. We can also feel jealous of other people's achievements and desire the same things. If we become obsessed with comparing ourselves with others, this can lead to unhealthy behaviors, such as excessive competition, jealousy and even depression.

In short, it's best not to constantly compare ourselves to others, as this can damage our self-esteem and lead to anxiety, jealousy and unhealthy behavior. It's more beneficial to focus on our personal goals and enjoy our own achievements, without comparing ourselves to others.

Set yourself achievable goals

The first step to setting achievable goals is to think about your aspirations and priorities. It's important to take the time to think carefully about what you want to achieve in the short and long term, thinking about what's important to you and what will make you happy.

Next, it's important to identify specific, concrete goals that can help achieve these aspirations. These goals need to be ambitious enough to motivate, but also achievable enough to avoid discouragement.

Once the objectives have been identified, it's important to draw up a clear action plan. This plan should include concrete steps to get you closer to your goal, and deadlines for each stage. This can help maintain motivation by showing progress.

It's also important to work progressively towards smaller goals to boost self-confidence. Setting goals that are too ambitious can lead to failure and loss of motivation. And don't forget to celebrate your successes! It's an important step in building self-confidence and self-esteem. Taking the time to recognize achievements can help you feel proud of yourself and keep you motivated to reach your next goals.

Be honest with yourself

Self-esteem is a crucial aspect of our emotional and mental well-being. However, it can be difficult to work on this self-esteem, especially if we have deep-rooted problems. Being honest with ourselves is an important step in improving our self-esteem. This means being prepared to examine our thoughts and feelings honestly, without judgment or shame.

Another important aspect is to ask for help if necessary. Sometimes we may need the help of a mental health professional to work on our self-esteem. A qualified therapist can help us identify the factors that have contributed to our low self-esteem and develop strategies to overcome these obstacles. He or she can also guide us in identifying our strengths and using them to boost our self-confidence.

There are also practical tips we can use to improve our self-esteem. For example, we can start making a list of our achievements and skills. We can also take the time to reflect on what we appreciate about ourselves and what makes us proud of ourselves. Finally, it can be helpful to set achievable goals and work progressively towards them. This can help boost our confidence in our abilities and improve our self-esteem.

In short, working on our self-esteem is an ongoing and complex process. It can take time, patience, honesty and commitment to ourselves. However, with professional help and the use of practical tips, we can make progress on our journey towards greater self-esteem.

Take care of yourself

Taking care of yourself is important for your physical and mental well-being, whether you're an entrepreneur or a remote worker. This means exercising regularly, eating healthily and getting enough sleep. Indeed, studies have shown that exercise can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

It's also important to take time for activities we enjoy, whether it's reading a book, listening to music or spending time with friends. These activities can help reduce stress and improve our state of mind.

Taking care of ourselves physically can also have an impact on our self-esteem. A healthy diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep can all contribute to improved self-esteem. By taking care of our bodies, we feel better about ourselves and more confident in our professional and personal lives.

In short, taking care of ourselves is essential to our overall well-being. By exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep and doing things we enjoy, we can improve our mood, reduce stress and boost our self-esteem.

Surround yourself with positive people

Surrounding yourself with positive people is one of the healthiest choices you can make in your life. People with a positive attitude have a positive influence on you and can help you become a better person. Here are some of the many benefits of surrounding yourself with positive people.

1. Boost your self-esteem : Positive people are optimistic and self-confident. They encourage you to have confidence in yourself and your abilities. By spending time with them, you can learn to value and appreciate yourself more.
   
2. Increase your motivation : Positive people are often highly motivated and passionate about life. By being in their company, you can find your own motivation to achieve your goals. Their energy and enthusiasm can inspire you to pursue your own dreams.
   
3. Reduce your stress : Positive people tend to be less stressed than negative people. By spending time with them, you can reduce your own stress levels and feel more relaxed. Positive people are also better at finding solutions to problems, which can help reduce the stress of life's challenges.
   
4. Encouraging personal growth : Positive people are often people who are constantly seeking to develop and improve themselves. By being in their company, you can learn to become a better person. They can encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and try new things.
   
5. Improve your mental health : Spending time with positive people can have a positive impact on your mental health. Positive people are often happier and more satisfied with their lives. Their positive thoughts can help you see things in a more favorable light and develop a more optimistic attitude.

In short, surrounding yourself with positive people can have a profound impact on your life. It can help you develop better self-esteem, be more motivated, reduce stress, encourage personal growth and improve your mental health. If you're looking to improve your life, start by surrounding yourself with positive people.

Think therapy (or even self-therapy!)

Cognitive and behavioral therapies are often recommended to help people suffering from low self-esteem. These types of therapies can help patients identify negative thought patterns and self-destructive behaviors that may be affecting their self-esteem, and replace them with more positive thoughts and behaviors. Cognitive and behavioral therapies are usually delivered by mental health professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers.

However, there is also the practice of self-therapy. Self-help means working on emotional and psychological problems on one's own, without the help of a professional. Self-help can be beneficial for some people, enabling them to take charge of their own mental health and work at their own pace. It can also be less costly than professionally-delivered therapies.

Self-help therapy can be effective for people with minor or moderate emotional and psychological problems. However, there are also disadvantages to self-help. Firstly, self-help can be difficult for people who find it hard to identify and understand their own problems. What's more, some people may find themselves using inappropriate or ineffective self-therapy methods, which can lead to a deterioration in their mental state.

It is important to note that self-help should not be considered a substitute for professional help. In cases of severe emotional or psychological distress, it is always preferable to consult a qualified professional for help. Self-help can be used while waiting to see a professional, or as a complement to professional therapy. It's important to consult a qualified professional for appropriate help!

In short, self-esteem is a crucial quality that can have a significant impact on our professional and personal lives. For entrepreneurs and remote workers in particular, it's important to cultivate healthy self-esteem in order to succeed in a demanding and ever-changing professional environment. The steps mentioned above can help improve the self-esteem of each and every one of us, enabling us to feel more confident, motivated and resilient in the face of life's challenges. It's essential to remember that improving self-esteem is an ongoing process that can lead to a happier, more fulfilling life.

Need more help?

Here are a few links you might find useful!
Short video (5 minutes): 7 Habits of People With Low Self Esteem - Psych2Go

Long video (1h26 minutes): 4 steps to crush self-doubt and gain total confidence | Florencia Andrés
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Young people aged 12-15: Module 3: self-esteem - adapt, Canadian Mental Health Association

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