Self-esteem and self-acceptance go hand in hand. If you’re dealing with anxiety from day to day, then you know all too well how important these two concepts are in your life. You might notice how your mood seems to shift downward almost automatically when your self-esteem is low, and happiness can seem almost non-existent when your self-acceptance is low.
What is self-esteem, really? Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself overall. If you think you’re a good person on the inside, then that is what you will usually radiate to other people. Self-acceptance is like self-esteem, except it goes one step further by embracing how you are as a person and accepting your strengths as well as your weaknesses.
The great battle with anxiety is controlling the anxiety symptoms that seem to creep up and take away our best moments and time to best with family and friends. If we look at the problem in a different way and work on self-esteem and self-acceptance, we can build a stronger foundation that will make it easier to keep anxiety problems at bay.
So, how can you build greater self-esteem? Write down a list of the things you’re really good at. Everyone has something that they’re good at and it doesn’t have to be a “major” thing – if you make the best pancakes known to man, write it down! Self-acceptance works into this theme as well – if you decide to write down your weaknesses, draw a circle around that list and remind yourself that in spite of those areas of improvement, you are still a person of great worth and value.
Building greater self-esteem and self-acceptance will take time – it’s definitely not an overnight process. However, if you can really commit to building both of those concepts to a higher level, you will definitely begin overcoming anxiety much faster than before.
Anxiety can be either a short term ‘state’ or a long term “trait.” Trait anxiety reflects a stable tendency to respond with state anxiety in the anticipation of threatening situations.It is closely related to the personality trait of neuroticism. Such anxiety may be conscious or unconscious.
Self acceptance is a key element to self esteem. When people can accept themselves the way they are the learn that the value that people have is related to their uniqueness and not from external accomplishments. Valuing one self on external accomplishments only creates a constant race to out do everyone around you. This type of behavior sets people up for an eventual down fall. It also sends a message to you and everyone that you know that you do not value yourself just on who you are but that you feel compelled to stack up accomplishments. External accomplishment are important to develop a level of self efficacy but should not be used as a measuring stick.
Writing down things in which are good at or maybe in which we excel radiates a sense of confidence within us. Similarly it is essential for us to know what weakness we have and a definite effort to eradicate those is needed. Accept, work on your shortcomings & you can watch your spirits soar!
Many people with self-esteem are simply trying to avoid losing more rather than gaining. Therefore, many people with lower self-esteem, particularly with anxiety problems too, become paralyzed with inaction. Finding the courage to branch out, make new friends, and increase the level of positive social engagement can be magical to self-esteem. This again can be difficult for people with GAD if there are problems meeting new people or feeling judged. So working with a friend or therapist to make this happen can be helpful.
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