In our fast-paced and competitive world, it’s hard not to compare our achievements with that of others. Unfortunately, this means that we can be our own worst enemies, sabotaging our chances of success.
Indeed, studies have shown that people with low self-esteem usually have low-paying work and are in positions that they dislike. Conversely, those who have high self-esteem tend to have higher-paying jobs that they enjoy.
If you’re already struggling with feelings of worthlessness, you may feel stuck in an impossible ‘catch-22’ situation. Gaining better pay is certainly one way to help you feel better about yourself, but how could you possibly increase your salary if you don’t have the confidence to apply for a better-paying job in the first place?
So, how do we break this situation to boost Self-Worth?
The Link Between Self-Worth and Earning Potential
It’s important to note that self-worth isn’t the result of landing a great job. In fact, confident people usually don’t gain confidence just because they were hired for an amazing work opportunity. Instead, they were able to land these great jobs because they believed they were good enough to do so. Put another way, their success was inevitable because they never doubted their ability to make it happen.
Hence, it’s helpful to view self-worth not as a measure of your external value, but as an internal measure that you place upon yourself. In other words, it’s up to you (and not other people) to determine your own self-worth and become confident enough to find a career that you love, one that allows you to thrive and put your talents to good use.
Improving Your Self-Esteem Can Change Your Life
Learning to love and accept yourself can open doors to all sorts of opportunities for your career. However, changing the way you view yourself can take a lot of time, patience, and practice. You’ll have to work on undoing a lot of your unhealthy habits if you want to become the best version of yourself.
To start, stop comparing your personal wins with that of others. Instead, look inward and identify what makes you irreplaceable. By uncovering your unique combination of strengths, you can tap into them and shine at work.
If you’re still having trouble identifying traits that you like about yourself, don’t worry. Read on for some tips to give your self-confidence a boost and help you figure out what you can offer as a professional.
How to Boost Your Self-Esteem
Dress the Part. The clothes you choose to wear can greatly affect the way you view yourself. Creating a personal style, that reflects who you are, and communicates a positive impression at work is a great way to begin changing the way you feel about yourself. So, invest in some high-quality clothes and take the time to look your best each day.
Change Your Body Language. Studies have shown that the way we carry ourselves can affect our self-worth. Hence, practising the right authentic gestures and facial expressions can truly help you feel more confident the more you use them when meeting others.
Don’t Focus on Failures. Try to catch yourself whenever you’re bringing yourself down for no reason. Instead of chastising yourself, focus on what you can learn from your mistakes so you can minimise their recurrence.
Stop Aiming for Perfection. Perfectionism is actually a manifestation of insecurity, fuelled by the fear of being exposed as an impostor. The problem is that there’s no such thing as perfection, so aiming for it is only setting yourself up for failure. A healthier approach would be to concentrate on producing something workable and improving on it over time.
Celebrate Your Successes. Take stock of all the personal wins you’ve accomplished so far. By acknowledging the things you’ve done right, you’ll nurture a positive mindset that’ll encourage you to achieve even more of your goals.
How to Determine What You Can Offer as a Professional
Assess Yourself. Track your career growth over the years, taking note of any skills or qualities you’ve developed or honed along the way. You should also pay attention to any talents that come to you naturally. Then, try to find a common link between all these to identify your personal strengths.
Revisit Your Past. Think about everything you’ve been through so far. Were there any challenges you had to overcome, and if so, how did they help shape the person you are now? This can help you show potential clients or employers that you are more than capable of resolving any problems that come your way.
Ask Others for Their Opinion. If you’re having a hard time finding something good to say about yourself, reach out to your friends and family members for help. They will be able to provide you with an outsider’s perspective of your best qualities, giving you a more objective view of what you can bring to the table.
Building your confidence back up is easier said than done. However, it’s never too late to take a step back and recalibrate the way you see yourself. Practice these tips and you’ll slowly but surely improve your self-esteem and earning potential in time.
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