2 Comments

It’s hard to change perceptions about yourself though isn’t it so low self esteem can be debilitating

Expand full comment
author

Yes, and no… one of the challenges with lower self esteem is dealing with ‘In the moment’ feelings because that perception of self is so central to who we are.

Looking back in time might be an easier place to start, we can add in perspective, we are not ‘in it’.

There’s been success with reminiscence therapy (CRT) taking autobiographical experiences and reflecting in a reasoned way in a guided conversation, or through groups with others. One of the outcomes appears to be improved psychological resources.

This seems to happen as a result of reduced negative thoughts and a shift in the narratives that the person holds about themselves. I’m going to caveat that these studies still use the self report self esteem questionnaires.

It’s a subtle thing, but shifting from the ‘I am this/I can’t or couldn’t do that’ to ‘how did I approach that, what did I do’ as self reflective practice could be a staring point.

Expand full comment