New Year’s resolutions in January can be a good challenge for self-improvement; we often put too much pressure on ourselves, leaving us feeling anxious and defeated. We’re all familiar with the concept of self-esteem and the importance of building ourselves and our confidence levels up. But what about health esteem?
Health esteem emphasizes a balance of embracing who you are now with changes you would like to make. January is World Health Esteem Month, and it serves as a good reminder to acknowledge both:
- The good things you have done and are currently doing for your health.
- The intentions you have to improve your well-being in the coming weeks and months.
Health esteem comes down to mindset and perspective. While reflecting on self-improvement, be careful not to fall into negative thought patterns that chip away at your self-esteem. Here are a few good examples of improving your health esteem.
- Instead of telling yourself that you’re going to exercise because you are unhappy with your weight, reframe it as valuing yourself and wanting to take care of your body.
- Instead of cutting back on alcohol consumption because society looks down on it, tell yourself you’re cutting back because your body will benefit and feel better without excessive amounts of it.
- Instead of pressuring yourself to spend less time on your phone, focus on what you’ll gain from using that time to do other things – like reading a book, spending time with family, or cooking that dish you’ve wanted to make from scratch.
Another important aspect of practicing good health esteem is being grateful to yourself for how far you’ve come and for the things you’re doing to take care of yourself each day, no matter how big or small.
References:
