A Simple Mental Health Exercise to Boost Your Self-Esteem

By Wendy Griffin, Consultant Editor of the Good News Post and CEO of Mental Health charity Wellspring

We all have moments when we feel down on ourselves, or when our self-esteem takes a hit.

During these times, it can feel impossible to escape the cycle of negative self-talk. But what if there were a way to shift your focus and build a more positive self-image?

Here's a mental health tip to try:

Imagine that your self-esteem is like a two-drawer filing cabinet. In the bottom drawer, you'll find all the negative things you believe about yourself.

This drawer, unfortunately, tends to stay open, and you may find yourself constantly leafing through it—re-reading everything you feel is wrong about you.

The guilt, the mistakes, the flaws—they all seem to pile up in this drawer.

But wait—there's a top drawer.

This is where all the positive things about you go.

The problem is, this drawer is often closed, or even completely ignored.

It’s full of compliments you might have received, your accomplishments, the things you’re proud of, and everything that makes you feel good about who you are.

The trick is to close the bottom drawer and open the top one instead.

Start filling the top drawer with positive reminders of who you truly are. Reach out to loved ones and ask them questions like, “What do you like about me?” or “What am I good at?”

They will likely offer insights you may never have considered, helping to reshape how you see yourself.

Notice the moments when you feel proud, when you feel pleased with yourself.

Those are golden moments to file away in the top drawer. Keep adding to it until it’s overflowing—until it’s hard to close the drawer!

Remember, a filing cabinet won’t stay balanced if both drawers are open at once.

The key is to limit the amount of time you spend focusing on the bottom drawer and to make the top drawer your go-to.

It’s okay if the bottom drawer is still there, but you don’t have to keep opening it.

Instead, choose to focus on all the positive things in your life, keeping your self-esteem steady and strong.

Try this tip today and watch your sense of self-worth grow!

For more information about the charity or to donate visit the Wellspring Charity website click here

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