Confronting and Dismantling the Demon of Low Self-Esteem
Updated: Jan 3
Confronting and Dismantling the Demon of Low Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem is like taking life’s journey with no confidence that you will succeed. It is failure to esteem yourself worthy to succeed or have good come to you due to feeling of inferior or inadequate.
Low-self esteem is a tool and weapon of the enemy to keep many from reaching their goals and potential. The root of low self-esteem can be from an absent or abusive parent or authoritative figure in the household, a verbally abusive loved one, poverty, hopelessness, sickness and many other dysfunctions. Nevertheless, you have the power within you to overcome every obstacle in your life, including low self-esteem. Over the years I have counseled with many people from all ages, walks of life, backgrounds, and abilities. I am often amazed at the fact that low self-esteem can harness the success of the most beautiful and talented person. It can lock up and stifle potential and God-given gifts, talents, and abilities. Low-self-esteem can stop a singer with the voice of angel, shut his or her mouth. It can stop a gifted dancer from excelling due to a low self image – not esteeming oneself worthy of success.
According to the dictionary: Low self-esteem is when someone lacks confidence about who they are and what they can do.
Here are 7 tips to help you overcome:
1. Find your true identity through God. God is the one who created you. You are special and God (the creator of all things) have given you abilities and special gifts to fulfill your purpose on this earth and be successful. The bible says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 KJV. What does that scripture mean? It means: You are God’s beloved. He will not take away your gifts and abilities or certainly not His love because of your past mistakes or where you come from. God made you righteous, a conqueror, an overcomer, rich, and loved. See yourself as God sees you – “special and unique”. You are the apple of His eye. Zechariah 2:8b.
2. Change yourself image by fighting the negative voice within. For example, when your inner voice tells you something negative about yourself or your inability to do something, speak back to it by saying the Word of God and other positive confessions. Here are a few:
· I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14)
· I have the ability to do whatever I want (Philippians 4:13)
· I’m loved by God (I John 4:10)
· I have a purpose from God (Ephesians 1:11)
3. Forgive yourself and release your past mistakes. It is very important to forgive yourself. We sometimes forgive all others but forget to forgive ourselves. Perhaps you made many mistakes in life or you were a victim and have blamed yourself for the crime against you. Maybe you have many regrets in life because of your past failures. Be fair to yourself and release the hurt and pain you’ve embedded in your heart as well as your past! You are worth forgiving. You are worth living. You are worth releasing the past and embracing your future.
4. Find 5 things that you like about yourself and focus on those 5 things. It can be very simple like, your ability to make friends, your personality, your care and concern for animals, or your ability to teach people new things. No matter how insignificant you may feel it is, there is something that not only you like about yourself but others like as well.
5. Recognize your accomplishments. No matter how small it may seem, recognize what you have accomplished. Even if you accomplished cleaning out the closet, a 30-minute walk, an article you finally wrote, or a task at your job.
6. Get help from a professional. If you are still struggling with deep hurts and emotional turmoil where you feel suicidal or depressed, it is okay for you to seek professional help such as a certified/licensed counselor, pastor, or a therapist. There is nothing wrong with seeking additional help. If you feel suicidal, please call the suicide hotline at 988.
7. Don’t try to please everyone. Many people who have low self-esteem are avid people pleasers. They strive to please people even when it is not warranted or deserving of the other person. They go out of their way especially if they feel someone is upset, angry, unhappy, or depressed, even to the point of taking abuse from them. It’s okay to please people within reason but your abusive friends and/or family members who don’t celebrate you or constantly put you down are not worthy of pleasing. Remember, you have needs, dreams, desires, and feelings and your needs and wants are important as well.
