Having high self-esteem is one of the most important aspects of maintaining confidence in yourself. However, a dating breakup or divorce can cause anyone to lose some of that self-esteem they previously had. It can affect you to the point where you may not know how to build it up again. As such, it's important to take the right steps in doing so. Here's a quick look at what you need to do to build up your self-esteem post-breakup.
Best Ways to Build Self-Esteem
Building your self esteem after suffering through a breakup or divorce will take time, which is the first thing you need to understand. You should find a hobby or two that you can use to take your mind off the breakup and your ex in particular. Putting your focus into something that you can do yourself is a good way to come to the realization that you aren't any less of a person now that you've broken up. Try to focus on the things that you are particularly good at or the character traits about yourself of which you're most proud. The breakup doesn't define who you are. One of the greatest ways to build self-esteem after a breakup is by working out. Becoming healthier and more in-shape will allow you to feel better about your body and yourself as a person.
It's also important not to suppress your feelings. Doing so can cause you to internalize all of the hurt you experienced in the relationship, possibly even making you hateful of who you are. Make sure to express your feelings as often as needed. Do this by confiding in one of your closest friends or family members, as they have your best interests at heart. Lastly, though this may seem difficult, you need to do everything you can to simply focus on what lies ahead. The past is exactly that, the past. There's nothing you can do about it, nor should you. The key to building your self-esteem is to understand that the best way to be confident about yourself is to realize that what you need to do now is move on and be happy with who you are.
What to Avoid When Building Self-Esteem
It's important to stop yourself from making the kinds of mistakes that will ruin the effort you've been putting into building your self-esteem back up. It can be difficult for anyone to deal with pain, especially after a nasty divorce. However, there's nothing that you can do, such as dating someone else too quickly, that will ease that pain. The only way to build your self-esteem is by accepting that very pain and taking the necessary steps to move on. You also shouldn't stay friends with your ex. It's alright not to cut them out of your life completely, but spending all of your time around them will only bring your insecurities about the breakup back into the spotlight every time you see them.