For all that i was, for all that i am and for what i will become. I am proud, I am not beautiful, I am not perfect, I am not the most intelligent but by whose standard as I am me. Yes this is true and these are realities we all have to deal with everyday. There is always someone better but i am me, That is all i can be. I need to exists on my own as an individual not a lost soul in an empty vessel. So many thoughts, so many feelings, at time it's hard to express so if you are reading this and you can relate then you truly are one of a kind because only but a few will get me,stand tall embrace and love yourself because if you don't nobody else will. Congrats on doing things for yourself it can and will get better from here on in.

I had to start at the basics. I would do one simple thing like lighting incense, eating one healthy thing or taking a walk. Every night before going to sleep I play back the good thing I did for myself. Soon I am doing more good things for myself. It really helps build up my confidence in myself one thing at a time.

For me.....its setting small goals & acknowledging yourself when you achieve them. The goals do not have to mean anything to anyone else, but they need to be important to you. Dont make them too big, because it may be overwhelming - which means we give up & then we think goal setting doesn't work.
Also learn to not reject compliments (we dont necessarily even need to accept them) - if we keep rejecting compliments, people will stop giving them

There is a good book that helped me. It is called coping with depression, anxiety and stress. It gives you exercises but it helps to have a therapist to talk to and go over it with you.

I can totally relate to what you are saying in your post! I tend to find myself repeating a simple phrase all too often, "I am who I am and that's all I am!" I believe that those few words sums up exactly what I feel about myself; It's not about good or bad self esteem issues, but rather simply accepting who I am as a person. Good or bad never comes into play.... I am though allowing myself to have both "flaws" as well as "benefits". I am no longer interested in punishing myself when I am not able to meet my goals as I had in the past, (I am a self harmer); I will though acknowledge every accomplishment that I am able to do, big and small. I finally realized that everyone, including myself, will not always be able to meet our own personal standards in life , but as long as I am willing to put forth the amount of effort forth that I believe is necessary, or even more than that, than I have accomplished everything that I set out to!!!

I hope you might find solace in my sharing with you my personal views and outlook upin my own life! I wish you well and inner peace & serenity.

Sincerely, Andrea Loomis
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