Stop Being Ashamed of Low Self-Esteem

It’s easy to be ashamed of having low self-esteem. Low self-esteem is generally perceived as a weakness and it’s often stigmatized. Having low self-esteem is bad enough, but feeling ashamed can make it a lot worse. Shame may prevent you from speaking up, seeking the help you need and it can also be isolating. You may want to hide away from the world or avoid talking to others. However, you can improve your self-esteem when you stop feeling ashamed.

How to Stop Feeling Ashamed of Low Self-Esteem

• Acknowledge your low self-esteem and the shame associated with it. That's your reality right now but it does not mean you want to stay that way. Acknowledgement of your situation empowers you to create change for the better.
• Know that there’s always a reason for low self-esteem. Something in your life has caused you to have low self-esteem so don’t beat yourself up over it. Instead, be kind to yourself while taking steps to create the life you want.
• Realize that you’re not the only one. Feeling like you’re the only one with low self-esteem adds to the shame. It’s important to know that low self-esteem is a common issue and it’s normal to have shameful feelings. It’s well hidden as many people won’t talk about it.
• Know that your feelings don’t reflect your real worth. Negative thoughts and feelings distort your reality. It helps to focus on your good qualities even though it can be challenging at times. Expressing gratitude or using affirmations can help you to make the switch to a positive mindset.
• Take action regardless of your thoughts and feelings. Your negative thoughts and feelings can trap you and it’s important to take action despite of them. Don’t let the shame control your actions. Instead step outside your comfort zone and challenge the negativity.
• Take responsibility for change. It’s up to you to take control of your life and the time to act is now. Your low self-esteem might have been caused by something in your past, however, it doesn't have to be your future. There’s no point in blaming others, dwelling too much on the past or shifting responsibility to someone else. What you become depends on you.
• Get mental health help. There’s absolutely no shame in seeking help and it will help you overcome your negative feelings about yourself. As well as professional help, you can seek support from friends, family or social networks. This may be particularly hard if you're feeling ashamed, but you are never alone.
• Consider low self-esteem as temporary. Low self-esteem doesn’t define you and it doesn’t have to be a life-long sentence. You can overcome it.

Having low self-esteem can certainly be challenging especially when you're ashamed of it. However, you can conquer those feelings with effort and persistence. It takes courage to step outside your comfort zone and fight the negativity but it's well worth it. Dealing with the shameful feelings will help you to overcome low-self esteem. You can do it.

You can find Fay Agathangelou on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest and her website.