Have you ever wondered how your self-esteem affects your relationships and the way you approach life?
How you view yourself can be the key to experiencing a full and balanced life.
In the latest episode of “The 3 R’s Podcast” by Nathaly Marcus, we interview Walter Riso, PhD in Psychology and Master in Bioethics, known for his work on cognitive psychology and human relationships.
In this talk, we discover the essential pillars of self-esteem and how to forge an attitude of self-love that allows us to live fully.
Walter Riso explains that self-esteem does not depend on our successes or failures, but on the way we value ourselves.
Watch out! It is an inner work that leads us to understand and accept who we are, with our strengths and weaknesses.
Self-esteem has four fundamental pillars:
1. Self-concept: It is how we think of ourselves, the mental image we have built over time.
This image can be distorted by past experiences, criticism from others, or even by society’s standards.
Beware! Self-criticism, comparison and standards of perfectionism can be our worst enemies.
When we speak kindly to ourselves and give ourselves the value we deserve, we strengthen our self-concept and, therefore, our self-esteem.
2. Self-image: This pillar focuses on how we perceive our body and physical appearance.
We live in a society that bombards us with unattainable ideals of beauty, which can lead us to judge ourselves harshly.
Beauty is an attitude, not the physical confirmation of our body. Let’s learn to celebrate our existence and feel good in our skin!
Accepting our imperfections and focusing on what makes us unique is essential to cultivating a deep self-love.
3. Indulge: We often think that taking care of ourselves is a selfish act, but the opposite is true!
Celebrating life and learning to indulge ourselves is a key step on the road to self-love.
Allowing yourself to enjoy moments of relaxation, hobbies, or simply pampering yourself with something that makes you happy is fundamental to nurturing your self-esteem. Self-love begins with these small daily gestures of self-care.
4. Self-efficacy: Confidence in our ability to be successful in achieving our goals is key to strong self-esteem.
Believing in our ability to face challenges, solve problems and learn from failures gives us a sense of control and helps us develop in a positive way.
It is important to recognize our achievements, no matter how small, and use them as a basis for strengthening our self-efficacy!
In addition to these pillars, Walter Riso reveals what actions we should avoid in order not to damage our self-esteem, such as constantly comparing ourselves, complaining, being overly self-critical and depending on the criteria of others to feel valuable. These behaviors are harmful and prevent us from building a healthy relationship with ourselves.
The relationship between self-esteem and emotional well-being:
Self-esteem profoundly affects our emotional well-being. Strong self-esteem allows us to set healthy boundaries in our relationships, face challenges with resilience and have a positive attitude towards life.
Conversely, when our self-esteem is low, we become more prone to experience anxiety, stress and even depression.
It is like having a strong emotional “immune system”: high self-esteem protects us from criticism and adverse situations, while low self-esteem makes us more vulnerable.
Building a strong self-esteem is an ongoing process. Here are some practices you can incorporate into your daily life to strengthen your self-esteem:
– Positive self-affirmations: Spend a few minutes each day telling yourself positive and motivating things.
Affirmations can help you change your internal narrative and focus on your strengths instead of your shortcomings.
– Learn to say “no”: Setting clear boundaries is critical to your emotional well-being.
You don’t have to please everyone; learning to say “no” is an act of self-love.
– Develop self-compassion: Be kind to yourself. We all make mistakes and have bad days. Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding as you would a close friend.
Caring in childhood: teaching self-esteem to the very young Self-esteem is formed in the first years of life and has a lasting impact.
Teaching our children from a young age to value themselves, not to be self-critical and to accept themselves as they are is crucial for them to grow up with a healthy and positive mindset. Children learn by example, so it is important for parents to work on their own self-esteem as well.
By modeling healthy behavior, we show our children how to love and respect themselves.
“Happiness is not a station to get to, but a way to get there.”
This is one of the powerful phrases you will find in this episode with Walter Riso.
Self-esteem is the compass that guides our actions and helps us stay on the path to happiness.
Remember, loving yourself is not selfish, but essential to be able to give the best of yourself to others.
Want to learn how to improve your self-esteem and strengthen your self-love?
Don’t miss this episode of “The 3 R’s Podcast”!
Go listen to it and start building a more positive relationship with yourself.
Walter Riso shares insights and practical advice that will help you transform your perspective and your relationships.
It’s time to invest in yourself!
