Feeling better about life can be difficult, especially during times of grief or stress or when dealing with any number of other struggles that occur at some point to nearly everyone. However, increasing your self-esteem and confidence, developing a stress management or relaxation routine, and trying to cultivate a more positive outlook on life can help you feel better and become more resilient during difficult times.
Step 1
Increase your self-esteem by changing the way you think about yourself, especially if you have developed negative thought patterns because of past traumas, abuse, or other negative events. The Mayo Clinic suggests that using cognitive-behavioral techniques can help to change negative thought patterns and potentially create a sense of increased self-esteem. Some of these techniques include developing an awareness of situations that bother you or cause you to feel deflated and labeling them as negative.
Negative thought patterns can create physical symptoms such as muscle tension, or emotional responses such as feeling sad or depressed. These responses can become so automatic that you might not even be aware that they are occurring. Cognitive-behavioral methods of developing self-esteem involve developing insight into incorrect or inaccurate negative thought patterns and mentally challenging them by asking yourself if what you are thinking is true. As you develop insight, you can change your thought patterns into healthier, more positive ones. Replace negative statements with positive ones whenever possible and be bold and try to do things you think you can't. Developing self-esteem and confidence involves taking risks at times.
Step 2
Develop a daily stress management or relaxation routine. If you have a lot of stress in your life, whether it is from difficult family situations or a challenging career, take time to unwind and let go of some of the stress. Stress can create muscle tension, headaches, depression, anxiety, and even lead to an increased risk of heart disease, obesity and digestive problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Whether you choose to learn meditation, practice yoga, use guided visualization audio programs, or just let off steam by talking to a trusted friend, you will feel better about yourself and about life in general if you can develop a way to relax and reduce stress.
Step 3
Cultivate a more positive attitude. It is not always easy to look at the glass as being half-full, especially if you have always seen things in a more pessimistic light. However, research shows that having a more positive attitude has numerous health, social and mental benefits. An article in the "Williamsport Sun-Gazette" reports that "positive thinking may lead to success in business and personal endeavors." Other studies, such as one published by an affiliate of ABC News, have shown that having a positive attitude can contribute to maintaining better physical and mental health with age.
A positive attitude can be developed by becoming aware of and changing negative thought patterns, but also by examining the relationships and situations in your life. Consider whether you have are any relationships that leave you feeling drained, or any situations that drag you down. If you want to develop a more positive attitude, think about trying to make some new friendships with people who are more optimistic and who leave you feeling better about yourself and life in general. It's not always possible to just discard negative situations, and everyone experiences them from time to time, but if you can replace them with experiences that you enjoy, you will be happier.
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