The book “6 Pillars of Self Esteem” is excellent. It’s research based and actionable.
Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
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Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#12The book “6 Pillars of Self Esteem” is excellent. It’s research based and actionable.
I should add that I found it during a journey similar to yours, and still use it as a reference.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#13I’m currently reading Feeling Good (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0380810336). It was recommended by someone here on HN. I’m half way through and I’d dare to say it’s already changing my life for the better.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#14If you are happy with your current medications, try Vitamin D if you are in a cloudy area or do not get out often. If you're good on those things, try increasing your exercise level. Walk/run/sprint or lifting. You can do body weight exercise at home if you do not feel comfortable in a gym just yet. If you are happy with your exercise level, pick up a new hobby, tech or otherwise.
Not a physician but have heard from others that Vitamin D supplements are not really helpful and just a routine insurance cash grab.
In my experience, bright lighting indoors had more of an effect but YMMV.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#15I'm currently in week 4 of the most popular course in Yale [0], but was made available online on Coursera[1].
I think for the most part I've learnt I've learnt that much of what we think about happiness is consistently shown not to work. And that many of our expectations of what we think will make us happy, simply won't. If we want genuine happiness, it takes an honest self-assessment of what we're doing, what's stopping us from being happy and what would be the best way to map the parts of our life we can control to actually make us happy.
Anyway, the course seems well respected and highly recommended [2]. But I hope you're doing ok, and whatever you choose to do next, you find what you're looking for. Best of luck.
[0] https://www.inc.com/betsy-mikel/yale-let-anyone-take-its-mos...
[1] https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#16If you are happy with your current medications, try Vitamin D if you are in a cloudy area or do not get out often. If you're good on those things, try increasing your exercise level. Walk/run/sprint or lifting. You can do body weight exercise at home if you do not feel comfortable in a gym just yet. If you are happy with your exercise level, pick up a new hobby, tech or otherwise.
I've become convinced that for anyone experiencing emotional or health problems, making sure you've got nutrition/activity/sleep nailed down should always be the first step.
I won't claim one of these is the magic bullet to help OP, since I don't know the specifics of the case. But if one or more of them aren't what they should be, then it's likely that it should be addressed before anything more extreme/expensive.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#17An excellent therapist is always a good thing to identify, but excersize can definitely also have a massive impact on self esteem, energy levels, and mood in general.
I found that strength training has radically changed my life, and I've certainly plumbed the depths of profound depression and anxiety in my own life. So far, nothing has come close to helping me as much as strength training. Working out regularly gives me a way to care for myself, and I can walk around knowing that I'm doing work that will have a lasting benefit for all aspects of my life. It's a lot less about looking perfect or weighing some ideal amount and more about caring for myself, and celebrating those small victories in the gym as evidence of personal resilience and growth.
Excersize may not be the magic bullet for your situation, but the same experience of caring for yourself might come from other experiences, like volunteer work, studying a new skill or hobby, etc.
By the way, I've certainly let mediocre therapy go too long. Nothing wrong with exploring other therapists, it's a deeply personal search, and needs also change over time. Trust your instincts on whether you are receiving the right care for you. The worst that can happen is that you try someone else and realize you prefer your former therapist.
You are worth it! Best of luck.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#18This is going to sound like circular reasoning, but bear with me: In order to raise self esteem, one must do esteemable things. Volunteer, be kind, let people in in traffic, work out, do these things consciously. You have to spend energy every day. Choose to spend it in positive ways. Note: the results are not instantaneous. Nor are they overpowering. It's subtle, and you often only notice after things have been bett…
I agree with everything you said. I would also add jiu-jitsu. Few things in life can both take someone with too much ego and put it in check, and take someone with a lack of self-esteem/confidence and give it to them. It's hard to overstate the life lessons learned through training.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#19One thing I would recommend that you set obtainable goals, and do them. There is a tremendous amount of power in the finishing things that you intend to do.
In the past I've started with big projects and struggled with my own confidence because I haven't finished them. Making small goals and accomplishing them really gives me an positive sense of self, and ability.
Re: Ask HN: Courses/resources to improve my self-esteem and believe in myself more?
#20An excellent therapist is always a good thing to identify, but excersize can definitely also have a massive impact on self esteem, energy levels, and mood in general. I found that strength training has radically changed my life, and I've certainly plumbed the depths of profound depression and anxiety in my own life. So far, nothing has come close to helping me as much as strength training. Working out regularly gives…
Same, don't know where I'd be without powerlifting/BB.