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The following suggestions may be helpful for a person who finds that they are struggling with low self-esteem:

1. It starts with a decision to be your own person. Don’t live your life to please, or impress, others.

2. Try to grasp the fact we have different goals and values … And don’t be swayed by people who criticise your dreams.

3. Don’t compare your journey to someone else’s journey as we start from different places and face different challenges.

4. Be kind, understanding and patient with yourself. Accept mistakes and failures are part of all our lives. Also, choose to frame mistakes as learning opportunities.

5. You need to root for yourself, and seek to be your own best friend. Don’t put yourself down – in public, or when you’re alone.

6. Remind yourself a weakness can become a strength in time. It takes patience and effort – but eventually things change.

7. Make a list of what you’re good at, and keep adding to the list. Also, note the strengths that others see, and comment on, as well.

8. Treat yourself with respect and praise the things that you do

9. Find ways to dissipate and channel negative emotions. Don’t allow them to dictate the way you start to see yourself.

10. Spend time with those who like you, and can see your worth and value. Ignore those who attack you, and would like to see you fail.

11. Choose to stand up for yourself, and value being more assertive. Also, set and then enforce appropriate, healthy boundaries.

@dailyketterdam: Inej Ghafa, spy