Most people begin their lives with all the confidence in the world.

As kids, you fearlessly take on new challenges, learning to ride a bike, taking part in our first spelling bee, exploring new hobbies and talents and so much more. And usually with little reservations.

Then, something happens along the way. You allow a voice (of an adult or another kid) from the outside to plant little seeds of doubt in us. Seeds that grow through the years all the way into adulthood and turn into a lack of self-esteem.

Self-esteem is defined by your opinions of yourself. It’s the stories we tell ourselves about our worth, abilities, and our value.

High-self esteem means you have a pretty healthy view of yourself, you celebrate your strengths and also challenge your weaknesses. But, if you have low self-esteem, you may believe you are not good enough, overly focus on your perceived weaknesses, and struggle with confidence.

But the great news is you can overcome low self-esteem and build confidence–even as an adult. You can change your thoughts and habits with self-love exercises and many other daily practices.

So, if you are looking for effective tools and ideas to help you on your journey in building self-esteem and boosting confidence keep reading.

Establish Daily Routines

When it comes to building self-esteem, for some, it may not come as easy. We often have days where we go from feeling confident and unshaken by the world to times where we need to love ourselves a little more. Essentially, if you’re looking to boost confidence and improve self-esteem, being mindful of how you spend your time daily can help.

By developing a daily routine you can help to feel more in control of your thoughts and time. We are creatures of habit and routines help encourage health and wellness through structure and organization.

So, try to start and end each day by completing one to three small habits. Things such as eating a healthy breakfast, journaling, or following a simple skincare routine can help. When you complete a portion of your routine, you feel a sense of achievement, which is crucial for building self-esteem. It’s truly the little things that matter!

Be Kind to Yourself

We strive to be the best version of ourselves daily. Yet, when we fail that little voice in your head can sometimes be brutal. We can be our own worst enemy at times and combating negative self-talk can really improve self-esteem. So be kind to yourself by pushing back against that little voice. You can do this by listening to what that inner voice is saying, challenging it, and changing how you respond. Remember, what we think becomes who we are! The sooner you learn to accept perfection is unrealistic, the better you'll become at practicing self-love and building confidence.

Take Time to Be With Yourself

Are you constantly surrounded by people at work, home, and school? Never quite get time to be with yourself?

You are not alone, literally.

With so much going on in our lives from being a mom to running a business, finding an opportunity to carve out “me time” can be hard. But taking time to do things you love or you find interesting is important.

In fact, experts say it can even boost confidence and improve your creativity to better deal with adverse situations.

You can start small by taking time to sit in a cafe and read or go big by taking a solo trip. No matter what you choose just do what brings you joy and do it often. This self-love exercise will help you in building self-esteem and cultivating your sense of self. And that's something no one can take from you!

Related: Rejuvenating Self Care Ideas For Tired Moms

Just Say “No”

We have all been there, someone asks a favor or invites us to dinner and although we don't want to go, we enthusiastically (and sometimes reluctantly) agree.

However, there is power in learning to say “No”. You may not realize it now, but learning to say no (without an apology) is an act of self-care.

In fact, saying “no” can create mental health stability by building self-esteem and courage by setting boundaries. When you learn to say “No” it strengthens your personal identity and builds confidence in your ability to advocate for yourself.

You can find a way to say "no" that feels natural to you, such as by sandwiching the refusal between positive comments. Or, practicing when a potential opportunity and activity doesn't align with your values, beliefs, and goals.

Above all, you should continue to practice to find what works best for you. It may be a bit scary at first, especially if it's something you are not familiar with. Yet, with time you’ll see how saying “no” is ultimately saying yes to you, and everything that makes you happy.

Acknowledge Your Successes

When was the last time you took the opportunity to acknowledge your successes?

Three months, one year, when you graduated from college ten years ago? At times we can downplay our wins, feeling as though they are “too small” to celebrate.

However, acknowledging your wins (no matter the size) is critical to building self-esteem. By recognizing and celebrating these achievements, you can transform how you view your abilities and motivate yourself to achieve more.

Also, you prove to yourself that you deserve good things, and have the skills to influence positive results in your life. Start by writing down just one success each day. It can be as simple as adding a 10-minute stretch to your nightly routine. With time you’ll start to notice how these wins help to boost confidence each and every day.

You Got This

If you struggle with low-self esteem you should know you are not alone. It’s reported that around 85% of adults in America struggle with low-self esteem. But as you’ve seen in this article you can and will overcome low self-esteem if you begin adopting new habits and mindsets. And things like learning a new skill, setting boundaries, and practicing self-care amongst other things will help start you on your journey today.

And when you start taking more of the self-care time you deserve don’t forget to light your favorite candle. If you don’t have a favorite Ardor Bin as a number of collections for you to choose from. Although it may be difficult or uncomfortable at first, through self-love, and reminding your self everyday how amazing your truly are you will be practicing building self-esteem and boosting confidence so can conquer life like the powerful Queen you are!