Self-esteem is the capacity that human beings have to feel good about themselves . A person who has his self-esteem well established will be able to cope better with the various adverse situations that may arise in life.

It is important to start establishing self-esteem from childhood so that in adulthood it can serve as a fundamental pillar in all our experiences, but this does not always happen.

It is then that the dynamics of self-esteem for adults is a good therapeutic alternative for adults who are insecure and do not trust themselves.

Self-esteem dynamics for adults

In this article we will see some dynamics of self-esteem for adults that can be very useful in strengthening it. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of these dynamics depends largely on the personal characteristics of each subject.

1. Stand in front of a mirror

The most common thing is that every day we look at ourselves in the mirror in a casual way, without this representing something in particular, to brush our teeth, or to comb our hair perhaps… But with this dynamic we can make looking at ourselves in the mirror every day a transforming experience for ourselves .

What we will do is choose a time when we will look at ourselves in the mirror every day, and smile when we see ourselves. We will focus on the person in front of us and say nice phrases that make that person (ourselves) feel good.

In this way we strengthen our self-esteem and our autonomy, emphasizing our virtues and realizing that we can be our own best motivator.

2. Write a letter to your version of the past

This works as a means to deeply connect with who we really are. It allows us to thank ourselves for the things we have done to get where we are, highlighting the positive all the time.

Although not all the way has been pleasant, we must learn to value our virtues and see that they have served us to become who we are now . That is why we are going to write this letter as if it were for someone very special; that someone who we are ourselves in a past version.

3. Reward yourself for your achievements

After you’ve studied hard for an exam, after you’ve finished a grueling workday, or after you’ve taken your hard-earned college exam, reward yourself! And don’t do it just based on how well you’ve done.

Do it on the basis that you have had the initiative to do things . Even if the results have not been as expected, you gave your best and that is rewarding, it deserves to be celebrated.

4. Reading as a reinforcement of self-esteem

When we read we are not only exercising our brain, but also we are giving ourselves a moment of personal encounter with ourselves . Reading makes us know ourselves better through the literature we discover.

When we see a phrase that has made us feel good, one that has motivated us, we take note of it in a personal diary, which we fill in with phrases that we find and do not make us feel positively identified.

5. Set aside space for you within the routine

Something that often happens is that we let our routine consume us to the point where we have no time to stop and think about ourselves and our personal interests. Not everything revolves around work or academics, it is also important to be in good spirits .

What we will do to realize this dynamic of self-esteem is to stay alone to think about things that make us happy and want to realize in the future. It doesn’t matter that it’s not much time, with fifteen minutes a day it will be fine.

6. List your virtues

This option consists of making a ranking list of your strengths and skills yourself. Do it as if it were a description of yourself that you are doing to someone else , but focus especially on the things that you are good at, and that you could become.

This practice will make you strengthen your self-esteem and motivation, keeping in mind that by writing down the things you might be good at you are setting goals for the future.

7. Give and receive

This dynamic is based on choosing a specific group of people and telling each of them three positive things they have. The purpose of this dynamic is to make the people to whom you express your virtues feel good about themselves.

On the other hand, when you see their reaction of joy you too will feel good about yourself and your power to make others feel good , and your self-esteem will go up.

Bibliographic references:

  • Crocker J.; Park L. E. (2004). The costly pursuit of self-esteem. Psychological Bulletin. 130 (3): 392 – 414.
  • Massenzana, F.B. (2017). Self-concept and self-esteem: synonyms or complementary constructs? Journal of research in social psychology.