Rebuilding Self-Esteem: A Student's Guide

University courses English & Journalism
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Facing setbacks like receiving a poor grade or being turned down from a job can really affect your self-esteem, affecting various aspects of your life from relationships to your overall well-being. But there are ways to build yourself back up!

Here are some tips that can help if you find yourself faced with low self-esteem after various disappointments:

  1. Identify what triggers your self-esteem dips:
    Think about the situations that tend to deflate your confidence. It could be anything from a challenging presentation at university, personal crises or changes in your life circumstances.

  2. Pay attention to your thoughts and beliefs:
    Once you’ve pinpointed these situations, observe how you think and feel about them. Are your thoughts mainly positive, negative, or neutral? Do they align with reality, or are they based on misconceptions? Friends and family can greatly help you to understand what thoughts are accurate and where you may be overthinking a bit!

  3. Challenge negative thought patterns:
    Question whether your initial perspective is the only valid one. Consider if there might be alternative explanations or viewpoints. Beware of common thinking traps like all-or-nothing (thinking in extremes), and ask yourself if you’d talk to a friend the way you talk to yourself.

  4. Reframe your thoughts and beliefs:
    Replace negative or inaccurate thoughts with positive and realistic ones. Use affirmations and self-compassion to encourage yourself. Remember that making mistakes is a part of life and doesn’t define your worth as a person. Avoid imposing strict expectations on yourself and focus on your strengths and past successes. Take negative thoughts as cues to adopt healthier thinking patterns and celebrate your progress along the way.

Have you ever dealt with low self-esteem? What did you do to bounce back to normal

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i still have very low self esteem, i think its important to note down when you feel that way and understand why we feel that way first and then take slow steps to learn and love ourselves

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Exactly! The most important thing is to distance yourself from your own perception, and try and take a look at yourself from a side

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It’s so easy to spiral into negative thought patterns. It took me a while to understand that it takes time to unlearn them but noticing that it happens is the first and a very big step forward.

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Thanks for sharing these awesome tips. Dealing with low self-esteem is something I’ve been though too. I found identifying triggers super helpful, and talking it out with friends brought a fresh perspective. Reframing thoughts and focusing on the positives made a huge difference for me.

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I’m glad that you found something that works for you :pray: We’ve all been there, after all. And i do believe that every single time we fight off negative thoughts we become stronger and better mentally

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Exactly!