ABC of Mental Health

Hello! Welcome to another edition of the ABC of Mental Health, your partner in the journey to better mental health — one newsletter at a time. This week’s theme is self-esteem since February is Self-Esteem month. We bring it to your inbox this Thursday to make your Thursday a little therapeutic! 

One relevant recommendation: 

Build yourself a strengths journal 

Maintaining a strengths journal is a valuable tool for building and maintaining self-esteem by fostering a growth mindset, enhancing self-awareness, boosting confidence, and promoting a healthier overall perspective on oneself. Here are few prompts for reflection:

1. If you are stuck trying to cope with a current concern, it can be helpful to reflect on a past success where you were able to cope with a similar concern. What inner resources helped you do this? What were your takeaways from that experience?

2. At times, it is much easier for others to see in us what we may find difficult to see in ourselves. What would your best friend say you are incredible at? 

3. What are some recurring compliments that you have received from your loved ones?

Two quotes on Self-love and Self-approval:

Louise Hay, a motivational author and founder of Hay House, advocates for the transformative power of self-approval:

"You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens."

An unknown author emphasizes the importance of recognizing and maintaining one's self-worth, regardless of external opinions or judgments:

"Your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth."

PS: If you know the source of this quote, please write back to us 

Three TherapyShorts from TST: 

1. Self-esteem is learned: Many times we say we have “low self-worth” without realizing how it was formed. Oftentimes cultures emphasize various traits or accomplishments, impacting how individuals view themselves. Example: Marks or grades are given a lot of importance in many cultures and anyone not scoring “enough” as per societal standards can begin to feel inferior, without questioning the roots of this learning. 

2. Changing Your Internal Dialogue: The way individuals talk to themselves, known as self-talk, plays a crucial role in self-esteem. If we are consistently harsh or unkind with ourselves, that leads to low self-worth or feelings of inadequacy. Positive self-talk however can contribute to a healthier self-esteem and increased confidence. Example: Negative self-talk: "I'm a failure for not getting promoted." Positive self-talk: "This appraisal isn't ideal, but I'm still capable and can learn from it for next time."

3. Self-esteem is Dynamic: While self-esteem tends to be relatively stable over time, it is not fixed and can change. Working towards it and accessing supportive sources and interventions such as therapy, self-reflection, and introspection can contribute to positive changes in self-esteem. Example: Recognizing a pattern of negative self-talk, an individual may self-reflect by asking, "Why do I react so harshly to setbacks?" This introspection can uncover underlying beliefs, allowing them to challenge and reframe these thoughts

Love and light,

The Social Therapist

PS: Not it