I think you would agree that we all need, even want a healthy self-esteem and sense of self-worth. Both a healthy self-esteem and self-worth are crucial to our ability to live a successful and contented life. Many people will look to others, like their family, friends and peers to gauge their own level of self-worth. Many more will use their material success, bank accounts, houses, & cars to put a veneer on their self-esteem. What we all need to understand is:

The most important assessment is how you feel about yourself.

The number of things you can do to boost your self-esteem is just as long as the ones you can do to deflate it. So, if you can, or are, taking steps to deflate it why not use that same energy to take those all important steps to boost it? By taking the steps to build your own self-worth and well-being, you're practicing the best form of preventative medicine possible.

Here are the top seven ways to boost your self-esteem:

1 - Do things you love. Doing the things you love can actually enable you to get 'high on life.' The more time you spend doing things you love to do, the better it makes you feel. You will physically get 'high on life' because doing the things you enjoy causes your brain to produce higher levels of dopamine and Norepinephrine. Dopamine alters the brain's speed for more focused attention and thrill sensations. Norepinephrine is yet another brain stimulator that gives more 'oomph' to even the most routine tasks.

Engaging in activities we love also helps us recall previous times we have done the activity. Recalling those positive memories increases our self-esteem. Your favorite activities are often things you do well, which is a factor in increasing our self-esteem.

2 - Strengthen your strengths. If you have read my previous blog entries or listened to my blogtalkradio show then you know I would rather you focus more on strengthening your strengths then your weaknesses. When you exercise your strengths, not only do you become stronger but your self-esteem rises as well. You naturally feel proud of the things you excel at and those things cause you to feel better about yourself.

Spend time working on, building, and renewing your strengths, and your inner approval rating will soar. Note: Just because you are not great at one of your strengths now does not mean you can not BE great at it with practice and effort.

3 - Surround yourself with positive people. Positive attitudes and energy are like an electrical charge carried from one person to the next via smiles, words and actions. When you spend time in the company of positive people, or your Junto Crew as I like to call them, your attitude will lift to match theirs. Even better is the fact that should one of your Junto Crew be down you can lift them up with your energy - this helping of others further increases your self-esteem

4 - Measure your worth based on yourself, not on others. We all see the world from the viewpoint of our own biases and past circumstances. When one person spews negative thoughts onto another, it is often a far greater reflection on their own deficiencies than that of the person they are attacking. There are two ways to be the tallest building in the city. 1) Build your building higher 2) Tear down all the other buildings. Choose to be #1.

Evaluating your self-esteem purely on the opinions of others is never a good idea. Instead, take your value from what you know to be true about yourself. This inside out approach is far more effective and controllable then the other way around.

5 - Believe in yourself. Trust in your own internal ability to achieve what-so-ever you set your mind to accomplish. When you truly believe that you are capable of reaching your goals, you unleash your ability to do so from deep within. Start small if you need to and slowly build up to the unstoppable and unshakable belief, self-worth and self-esteem you desire.

6 - Set your thoughts on the things you want to attract. Knowing specifically what you want to accomplish and thinking about it on a regular basis tells your mind, "This is important to me." This activates your RAS (Reticular Activating System), and your RAS will keep on the look out for information, situations and people that will help bring you closer to its accomplishment. Albert Einstein determined all things are made of energy and energy attracts more of the same energy. Focusing your thoughts and energy on those specific things you desire most in your life keeps those things moving toward you. Each step closer enhances your self-esteem.

7 - Affirm positive present tense thoughts to yourself. We have all heard the "Fake it, until you make it" mentality. Positive present tense "act as if" Affirmations work on the "Fake it, until you make it" principle. Instead of saying, "I want to be happy," say, "I am a happy person." Say it out loud everyday.

Build your own arsenal of positive affirmations to pull you toward that which you desire. As you begin to "reprogram" your subconscious to see it and believe it as the truth, you will soon be feeling that truth every day.

There you are seven simple steps to boost your self-esteem. All seven are easy to put into practice in your day-to-day life. Start today to enhance your self-worth and self-esteem into the foundation of the unshakable character you deserve and desire. Do this and I can safely say - Your life will never be the same.

Think Successfully & Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
Today's Top Motivated Coach & Author of Success Atlas Programs http://successatlas.com/