Self esteem is your own personal view of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Everyone has a different view of themselves, but keeping a positive outlook will benefit you more than a negative one.  Many individuals suffer from low self esteem for a variety of reasons and need to build their self esteem in order to succeed in life.  Remember, the only one who can make you excel is you and no one else.  The same goes for self esteem.  The only person who can build up—or consequentially tear down—your self esteem is you.  Although other individuals may aide the process, the end decision is yours.

People have low esteem for a variety of reasons.  Some individuals suffer from poor body image and focus on all the negative traits of their physical appearance.  Others have emotional issues that have caused their self esteem to drop or feel themselves unworthy of any praise.  For whatever reasons your self esteem may falter, the key to building it up again is to find the root of the problem.  Think of self esteem like a house, if you build a stunning house on a poor foundation, the entire structure will crumble.  However, if you take steps to ensure the foundation is strong and capable of holding anything, the process may be slow, but your self esteem will be built soundly.

Training in the martial arts is a great way to build self-esteem.  The long-term goal of achieving a black belt is broken into many smaller steps.  Each accomplishment on the path toward black belt is a chance to succeed at something new.  With each new accomplishment, you are able to get used to the feeling of success.  The martial arts family is there to support each other and build each other up.  Accomplishing individual goals among your peers is a great way to build self-esteem.

A main factor in self esteem is negativity.  Negative thoughts can pervade your confidence and crumble your self esteem.  If you find yourself surrounded by negative people or in a negative situation, try to best remedy the problem.  Often, individuals in a abusive relationship have their self esteem shattered when a supposed loved one constantly berates them and questions their worth.  Similarly, a negative workplace environment can lower your self esteem with colleagues or bosses finding fault with your work.  Maybe you have a friend who is consistently negative with all surrounding him or her.  Whatever the source, distancing yourself from the negativity will help you regain your self esteem.  Strive to surround yourself with positive people.  If you are going through a rough time in your personal life, you may wish to join a support group.  Similarly, there are support groups available for individuals with self image issues.  These groups will allow you to meet other individuals like yourself and provide a forum for you to sound your hopes and achievements.

However you choose to begin building your self esteem, do so today!  Be thorough and consistent with the process and be aware it may take a while.  You should not become impatient or despondent if you find your self esteem slipping.  Remember, you are an important and worthy person and should treat yourself as such.