Success is often attributed to having the right attitude and greater self-assurance than the average Joe, as entrepreneurs and businesspeople are seen jumping at opportunities that involve high risks. For most people, achieving this level of self-assurance is a dream; however, it’s far from impossible.
According to a piece published by GRCS, nearly 85% of the world’s population is affected by low self-esteem, which means every 8 in 10 people. The question here is: why?
We believe the answer lies out there somewhere, so on our quest to uncover the truth, we sat down with success advisor Jane Morales to discuss the deep end of building greater self-assurance that acts as a key building block in successful careers.
When asked about her opinion on the probable cause behind such high volumes of people suffering from a lack of confidence and self-esteem, Jane Morales said, “There are a lot of factors. You can’t label it as one thing, it could be something in the individual’s upbringing, or it could be something in their workplace, or they could be facing doubt and may feel like they lack purpose in their life. So in my line of work, we don’t believe in a one-shoe-fits-all approach.”
Curious, we asked how she dealt with clients who were actively suffering from a lack of self-confidence, to which the mental advisor replied, “Usually, I don’t place anyone in any category based solely on physical appearance or on first contact. I have a Bachelor’s in Marketing and a Master’s in Communications, so dealing with people is kind of my forte. However, every time I’m dealing with a client, I keep my mind open and try to help them as best as I can. Most of the time, that’s half of the job.”
Jane added, “During my time as a relationship advisor, I’ve picked up a few tells of people who suffer from self-esteem issues, and when I pinpoint the root cause, it turns out they have been ignoring the most obvious symptoms for a long time. These symptoms include a lack of motivation and feeling dull, worthless, and drained. Now there are a few steps that I always encourage people to take as a self-help measure – steps which can help them improve and groom themselves.”
Get Things Done
“Most people feel worthless and feel like they’re not adding value to their workplaces and families, so I encourage these people to do things. Do something. It can be anything from cleaning the room to getting some exercise in.”
Have Foresight
“The most common symptom of low self-esteem is feeling drained all the time. That’s where I ask people to force themselves through the tasks they normally would have put off for later. It’s a tough job to do, but it can go a long way in helping you cope.”
Try New Things
“My clients usually limit themselves to their comfort zones which tricks them into thinking that they’re not doing enough. This is a common problem that most people face, so I advise them to get new hobbies, like reading, fishing, sports, or if they can’t find anything else, then drawing.”
Stand Up for Yourself
“One of the hardest things to do for people who have low self-assurance is stand up for themselves. I’ve worked with people who were emotionally trampled by others on a regular basis, and they just took it. The most important part of building self-esteem is not falling prey to expectations and actually drawing the line in relationships. You have to be willing to say no every once in a while.”
Monitor Your Progress
“Obviously, all these are easier said than done, especially for people with low self-confidence, so my advice is to break these goals into smaller sub-goals. It makes it way easier to get them done. And once you start, remember to monitor the progress. It’ll help you stay motivated, and you’ll push yourself more.”
In a world as fast-paced as ours, the importance of mental strength is often overlooked, given the fact that people prefer to suffer silently rather than ask for help. On a parting note, Jane Morales encouraged people to “seek out help from professionals” if they believe their mental state calls for it.000000000000000000000000000