“I have low self-esteem” is a frequent request for people to contact me for advice. In the article I will tell you about the main signs of low self-esteem, as well as 5 ways to work with it. Low self-esteem is a condition in which a person evaluates himself negatively and does not believe in his own abilities. How can I tell if I have self-esteem problems? Read these signs of low self-esteem:1. Distrust of your own opinion - others are always right. Confidence that your opinion is less important or correct compared to the opinions of others.2. Fear of expressing opinions or ideas, lack of confidence in them. Fear of expressing your thoughts and ideas, as well as constant uncertainty about their correctness.3. Fear of difficulties, doubt in one’s own ability to overcome them. A feeling of fear of difficulties and constant doubt in one’s own ability to cope with them.4. Feelings of failure due to inability to achieve goals, even if they are unrealistic. Even if the goals set are not achievable, they can cause feelings of failure and increase negative feelings about oneself.5. Strong self-criticism and a tendency towards obsessive perfectionism. Tendency to constant self-criticism and the desire for ideality in every matter.6. Constant emotional fatigue. Low self-esteem can become a source of constant emotional fatigue. Constant internal struggle and stress associated with a negative attitude towards oneself can lead to emotional exhaustion.7. Tendency to extremes: either excessive performance or apathy. Disharmony in self-esteem can manifest itself in extreme reactions: either excessive activity, when you try to compensate for your shortcomings through work, or apathy, when you lose interest and motivation.8. Avoidance of interpersonal interactions. Avoidance of communication may be a strategy to protect against possible rejection or negative evaluation from others.9. Painful attitude towards criticism. Perceiving criticism as a personal failure, which can cause stress and painful experiences. I hope these signs will help you determine whether you have problems with self-esteem. How to increase self-confidence? Low self-esteem can create various problems in life: in relationships, in achievement goals, professional growth. But there are ways to work with it, here are a few approaches: 1. Dealing with the Inner Critic: The inner critic is the inner voice or image that criticizes, judges, and expresses doubts about your behavior, actions, or decisions. This inner voice is often shaped by external standards, societal expectations, or negative experiences. It can manifest itself as self-criticism , perfectionism or procrastination. Therefore, the first step to confidence is to change your self-talk. Instead of criticizing yourself and highlighting your shortcomings, develop self-cooperation, support and self-acceptance. Make your inner critic your ally.2. Focus on achievements: Make a list of your achievements. This will boost your confidence. Refer back to this list periodically to keep track of your progress. Keeping a list of successes can include even small achievements, such as completing something you've been putting off for a long time, completing priority tasks, etc. Regularly updating your list will help you see how far you've come and will maintain your confidence within your power. You can turn this step into a daily practice. Take a transparent jar and a few leaves. On each piece of paper, write down all your achievements. Place these leaves in a jar. Each time you complete a new project or achieve a goal, add a new piece of paper there. This visual confirmation of your progress and constant development stimulates self-confidence.3. Awareness of life scenarios and beliefs: Understand which scenarios shape your doubts. Analyze their roots and decide to change negative beliefs. Doubts are often associated with certain situations.