Build A Positive Self-Image

A Positive Self-Image is important for mental and emotional well-being. It leads to greater self-confidence, self-esteem, and resilience. On the other hand, a negative self-image contributes to feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth, and self-doubt.

As with most changes in the way we think and feel, there is no quick fix to improving self-image. The good news is that there are things you can do!

Try the exercises below to give yourself a boost in self-image.

List 10 Things You Love About Yourself

• This is a simple exercise, but one that can be very powerful.

• All you need to do is list 10 things you love about yourself! This can be harder than it seems.

• Actively seeking out the positive in yourself will make it much easier to see yourself in a positive light.

If you reach 10 and have more to list, keep writing them down! It won’t hurt to have extra things to love about yourself.

List 5 Achievements of Which You Are Proud

• Write down at least 5 things you're proud of.

• Achievement can be enormous (ie. winning a national tournament) OR little (passing a test).

• Reminding yourself of your abilities and challenging yourself to overcome obstacles is more important than the achievement itself.

• Write lengthy accounts of each accomplishment to build self-esteem.

List 3 Occasions Where You Overcame Adversity.

• Adversity can range from institutional and structural, like gender or racial inequality, to personal, like anxiety or despair.

• Record each of these 3 events to remind yourself of your power, perseverance, and potential.

Repeat if you can think of more than 3 times till you run out of things to write about.

List 50 Things You Appreciate About Your Life

• This is the biggest and possibly the most time and effort intensive, but it’s worth it.

• This exercise can change your self-esteem, perspective, and self-image.

• Although gratitude is a great thing to work on experiencing more often, this list goes beyond gratitude to appreciation.

• Appreciating how you've benefited from wonderful things in your life makes it easy and natural to feel grateful and optimistic about yourself and your life.

• Sharing appreciation is vital. Feel free to share that appreciation with those on your list.

• Commit to sharing your appreciation more often as you go forward.

• Remember how lucky you are and how many excellent things you have in your life will help you establish and maintain a positive self-image.

If you have more than 50 ideas, keep listing until you run out of ideas.