If you’re feeling sad or hopeless, you’re not alone. Many other teens feel the same way. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4 out of 10 high school students have these persistent feelings. While it’s natural to feel sad from time to time, these emotions shouldn’t take over. Fortunately, building your self-esteem can help. Increasing your confidence can help you develop a more positive mindset, cope more effectively with challenges and build emotional resilience.
Lightfully’s Teen programs can support you on your journey to improving your self-esteem. Our licensed clinical therapists can personalize your treatment based on your specific needs.
Let’s explore six things every teen should know about building self-esteem, so you can improve your well-being.
6 things to know about building self-esteem
Improving your confidence can take time, but the right strategies can help you make progress. Here are some of our best tips to help you feel better about yourself:
1. Self-acceptance is important.
When you learn to accept yourself, it’s easier to overcome life’s challenges. It’s important to remember that nobody is perfect, and each mistake is a chance to grow. While it may be easy to compare yourself to others, don’t let that get in the way of you acknowledging your unique strengths. Self-acceptance can help you fight negative self-talk, become more resilient and reduce social anxiety.
2. Thinking positively can boost your confidence.
Have you ever noticed that your feelings follow your thoughts? When you think negatively about yourself, you may find yourself in a bad mood. However, reframing negative thoughts into positive ones can help you feel better and boost your confidence. Instead of saying, “I can’t get an A in math,” try saying, “I can work on bringing my math grade up.” This positive shift can help you believe in yourself more, which may boost your confidence.
3. Mindfulness can help you stay grounded.
Mindfulness is a valuable skill that can help you become more aware of your thoughts and actions without being judgmental. Recognizing negative thought patterns can allow you to stop them rather than feeling saddened or overwhelmed by them. As a result, mindfulness can reduce stress, help you manage emotions and promote resilience, which can build self-esteem.
Examples of mindfulness include:
- Taking deep breaths when feeling stressed
- Journaling to practice gratitude or express feelings
- Imagining a calm, peaceful setting during a guided meditation
4. Patience is key to success.
Building your confidence isn’t an overnight journey. Even though it can take some time, everything you try can make a difference. It’s important to stay patient during this process and remember that being consistent is the best thing you can do to make progress. Over time, you can build your confidence. If it feels overwhelming, try taking one small step to get started. You can begin by forgiving yourself for your mistakes, remembering your strengths or even doing something that you enjoy.
5. Celebrating your wins can help you keep going.
Boosting your self-esteem is a journey, and sometimes it can be easy to forget how far you’ve come. Celebrating your wins along the way can make a big difference. When you feel good about your progress, your body releases dopamine, a “feel-good” chemical that can elevate your mood. Knowing that you’re doing a good job makes it easier to keep going.
Make sure you celebrate the times you:
- Challenge negative thoughts
- Handle a stressful situation well
- Take time for self-care like journaling or taking a walk
- Stand up for yourself
- Get a good grade or succeed with a challenging task
6. Support is available.
If building your self-esteem on your own feels challenging, you don’t have to work on it alone. You can reach out to your friends and family and talk about what you’re going through. You can also discuss Lightfully’s Teen programs with your parents or guardian to see if professional support can help. Our licensed clinical therapists have helped many teens boost their confidence, and we’re here to assist you on your journey with personalized and effective treatment.
Find support building your self-esteem at Lightfully
School, social media and stressful situations can make it difficult to feel confident about yourself. It can be especially difficult as you’re growing up and figuring out your identity. Fortunately, there are many techniques you can try to help boost your self-esteem. However, there’s no shame in asking for help.
At Lightfully, we take a whole-person-centered care approach that goes beyond treating isolated symptoms. Our deeply compassionate experts can work with you to personalize your care with one of our Teen programs. No matter how bad you feel your self-esteem is, we can work on improving it, so you can feel better.
Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, talk to your parents or guardian about reaching out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.
