How low self-esteem can show up
Low self-esteem has less to do with confidence on the surface and more to do with what you quietly believe you are worth.
- In your thoughts
- A running commentary of criticism, comparing yourself with others, brushing off anything good.
- In your body
- Shrinking in a room, a flush of shame over small mistakes, tension when you feel watched or judged.
- In your days
- Over-preparing, people-pleasing, not applying, not asking, apologising when you’ve done nothing wrong.
How we might work on it together
We look at the critical voice: whose it sounds like, when it gets loud, and what it is trying to protect you from.
Then we practise something different, slowly. Noticing what you do well, saying what you think, letting yourself be seen. It tends to feel awkward before it feels true.
The way you talk to yourself was learned, so it can change.