6 Deep and Lasting Ways to Improve Your Self-Esteem

Oct 17, 2025

Explore six transformative practices to boost self-esteem and silence negative self-talk. Discover how clarifying your values creates a purposeful life, leading to greater integrity and confidence. Replace harmful self-criticism with a growth mindset, and learn to recognize your strengths. Engage in daily good-deeds to shift focus from flaws to positives. Embrace your unique gifts and use them to help others, fostering genuine self-worth. Finally, accept compliments graciously to reinforce your authentic self.

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INSIGHT

Self-Esteem From Purpose

Deep self-esteem arises from living with purpose and integrity rather than repeating affirmations.
Clarifying values gives direction and helps you trust yourself as you move toward them.

ADVICE

Clarify Values And Act

Do a values clarification exercise and visualize a life aligned with those values daily.
Then shift regrets into one small valued action you can take today to build momentum.

ADVICE

Ban Self-Name-Calling

Avoid personal name-calling and replace self-putdowns with growth-mindset phrases.
Write your negative labels and prepare compassionate replacement lines to use instead.

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Boost self-esteem with 6 practices to transform self-talk, build self-worth, and align your life with purpose, integrity, and authentic confidence. 👉 Download my free Values Clarification exercise here: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/opt-in-2123fb37-7322-4208-a65a-2b135a653d47

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Low self-esteem can feel like being stuck in a cycle of negative self-talk—rehashing mistakes, beating yourself up, and never feeling good enough. In this video, I’ll share 6 powerful practices to rebuild your self-worth and finally quiet that inner critic.

You’ll learn how to: Clarify your values so your self-esteem is rooted in purpose and integrity Stop negative self-talk and replace cruel labels with compassion Challenge mental filtering so you notice your strengths, not just your flaws Discover your unique gifts and embrace what makes you different Use your strengths to serve others and spark real confidence Accept compliments and let them build you up instead of brushing them off These practical steps go beyond affirmations. They’ll help you align with your values, strengthen your self-talk, and grow a deep sense of self-worth that lasts.

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.