Hey great discussion, over the past year I've been working on developing self-esteem.
It has developed significantly - I've ended bullying friendships - but it is a gradual process. The combination of self-help that seems to work for me are exercises to change my internal awareness, and body awareness exercises.
About a month ago after spending 2 weeks reading Paul Mckenna's book and listening to his hypnosis CD on confidence I experientially understood - rather than intellectually understood - that self-value is with the self, not comparison with others.
So since then I've been trying to change my internal dialogue so that it's focused on self-value rather than comparison, by doing a minute a day internally saying what
I appreciate about myself, and I'm also going to do the 'I love you' mirror exercise for a minute a day.
I'm also beginning to change my internal dialogue to self-compassion whenever I make mistakes, or catch myself 'chastising' myself. (I'm discovering this can be a challenging habit to change, self-hatred is... seductive
)
I know these simple exercises can have a powerful effect, because I've experienced the power of cultivating the habit of gratitude in regards to happiness. Although I have anxiety challenges that go back to childhood, I haven't suffered from depression since I cultivated the habit of gratitude/appreciation in my internal dialogue. That was about 5 to 6 years ago (although it was very challenging to cultivate initially, and I didn't do it without support).
I used to think I couldn't be happ
ier until my neuroticism was healed - I now realize and experience that's bullshit. I may be neurotic, and I sometimes go through challenging 'nights' dealing with my anxiety, but I'm generally a happy and optimistic guy.
Another 'angle' at which I'm working is through bodily awareness therapy exercises, as taught by Peter Levine - his exercises have really shown me how to 'discharge' anxiety built up throughout the day. I've been doing it the past 6 months and it's been a life-saver for me.
I'm hoping to do some somatic experiencing therapy, because I realize how beneficial the exercises have been for me, and 'talk therapy' doesn't do much for me. The only problem is therapy costs a bomb.
Here's to self-help
P.S. here's some vids I found simple and insightful...
Self-love vs comparision
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS1IQlw8TGwSelf-compassion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjvYhd34fgc