Low self esteem is a curse that affects up to 80% of the world population it is either permanent or temporary. Beating low self esteem is a challenge that everybody should be aware of because as you overcome this problem your lifestyle improves each day. Each one of us is a unique human being with skills that are unbelievable. The problem is that unless we have the confidence to allow these skills to come out and flourish we cannot reap the rewards of life.
We are always hearing of the 80/20 rule in life whereby 20% of the population own 80% of the wealth. Or 20% of professional people are outstanding and 80% just adequate. These are all true of life and I wish to add one more 80/20 example: 80% of people suffer either temporary or permanent low self esteem and this same 80% are the people we see in the above examples. They are the 80% that do not reach their full potential in life.
This is a very sad situation but not a hopeless one because many of the successful 20% have been part of the 80% at one time in their life. These are people that have broken out of their shell of low self esteem and gone on to reap the rewards of a better lifestyle.
The question most are asking now is: “Can I do it too?”
The answer is yes you can but it isn’t a thing you can do overnight – you need to start by achieving some small things and knowing that you have done the task as well as anybody on earth can do it. Then you must be proud of your achievement because if you are not you will slip back into low self-esteem.
By taking on a new hobby you are building a platform to work your way out of the doldrums of lack of confidence. But don’t stop at one task; as you master one move onto another and prove to yourself that you are a special person.
What activities are designed to beat low self esteem? Well there are different things you could participate in. these things are designed to help you realize that you are okay in just being you.
1) Arts and crafts - These activity is used in building low self esteem simply because they allow you to let your creativity out. These activities help in building self esteem because they allow you to explore your talents without prejudice. You see, this activity is not meant for you to compete. This activity is meant to show you that you can accomplish something and enjoy it.
Arts and crafts are often done for the purpose of letting a person do an activity for the sheer fun of it. The focus is not on the achievement itself but on the distraction offered by the activity. Another thing that helps in building low self esteem is the fact that they actually are taught that art is not about making something perfect, it is about making something.
2) Gardening – Gardening is a very satisfying occupation and the end product of your labor is a sight of rare beauty created entirely by you. The way to start is to make a sketch of how you would like your garden to look. Just use graph paper and measure out paths, flower beds, lawns, maybe even a vegetable patch. Guess what? After making out the plan you are one of the 20% of gardeners who actually have a plan.
Next take one small patch of garden at a time. Have no time limit. Say 50 square feet, mark it out and start doing what you planned to do in this area. At the end of each hour you work you have achieved and a degree of self esteem and personal belief will surge through you. Your self esteem is growing already.
3) Sport – If you are fit enough take up a sport, especially a team sport because you will be joining like minded people, you will be improving your level of fitness and suddenly the world becomes a more rewarding place. Only yesterday I watched two teams of people playing lawn bowls. I guess the youngest player was in her fifties and the oldest around 80. They enjoyed great camaraderie, good conversation, enjoyment, excitement and light physical exercise. All of these people believed in themselves and their team. There was no low self esteem on display.
These three activities are commonly used to beat low self esteem and create a lifestyle that is enjoyable, full of friend and full of challenge. Most of all they are full of achievement.
