Question: How can I learn to believe in myself?

Answer: Most people don’t believe in themselves because they’ve been programmed not to. Parents, siblings, friends, teachers, etc. have put them down, belittled them, not recognized their achievements or encouraged their potential. We tend to absorb our parents’ opinions of us and then act towards ourselves as they did.

One way to learn to believe in yourself is to begin giving yourself positive, nurturing comments. Do things that are healthy and beneficial to you.

If you can, avoid people who are negative, belittling, sabotaging. Those types of people may feel insecure in themselves, and make themselves feel better by putting you down. Distance yourself from them as much as you can, and just consider the source of who is saying the unfriendly things. You don’t have to believe them.

There’s an old saying, “To have a friend, you have to be a friend,” and the first person you have to be a friend to is yourself. You have to be willing to be in your corner and stand up for yourself when you’ve been stepped on. And you also have to honor other peoples’ rights to be who they are.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart