On July 29, 2025, Kimberly Elias, a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Partnership Executive at Magellan Health, led a 15-minute webinar titled Improve Your Self-Esteem. Whether you joined us live or are just catching up now, this recap highlights the key takeaways from her thoughtful discussion.
How do you define self-esteem, and why is it so important in daily life?
Self-esteem is an individual’s overall evaluation of their own worth and value as a person. It’s a core part of who we are and often takes root in childhood. While it’s deeply ingrained, it’s not necessarily fixed and can shift depending on the life events and circumstances we experience.
Having healthy self-esteem is important because it affects our overall quality of life. When our self-esteem is low, it can hold us back from pursuing goals, taking risks or fully enjoying life. It can create a constant inner dialogue of self-doubt that limits our potential.
What’s the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence?
Self-confidence is more about believing in your ability to accomplish a specific task or succeed in a particular situation. Self-esteem is your overall sense of self-worth.
For example, someone might feel very confident in the kitchen. They can follow a recipe, prepare a healthy meal and serve it to their family with ease. But when they receive compliments for that meal, they might struggle to accept them. Deep down, they may not feel worthy of the praise or even worthy of enjoying the meal themselves. That’s low self-esteem, despite high confidence in a particular skill.
The reverse is also true. A person can have healthy self-esteem but still lack confidence when trying something new or unfamiliar.
What does low self-esteem look like in someone’s day-to-day life?
Someone who’s struggling with low self-esteem will often experience persistent negative self-talk. This internal dialogue can be overly critical and, at times, excessive. People with low self-esteem often engage in people-pleasing, have a hard time trusting their own decisions and struggle to advocate for themselves. They tend to compare themselves to others constantly, which reinforces feelings of inadequacy. Setting healthy boundaries can also be a major challenge.
What does healthy self-esteem look and feel like in action?
Healthy self-esteem is rooted in an internal sense of worth, not external achievements or opinions. A person with healthy self-esteem doesn’t define themselves by what’s happening around them.
Take the example of someone training for a marathon. Let’s say they didn’t hit the time they were aiming for. Instead of seeing that as a personal failure or a reflection of their worth, they’re still able to view themselves in a positive light. They recognize the effort they put in, celebrate the progress they made and maintain their sense of self-worth regardless of the outcome.
People with healthy self-esteem believe they have value simply because they exist, not because they checked a box, earned an award or met someone else’s expectations. That belief empowers them to take on challenges, bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward without letting self-doubt take over.
What are some simple tools and strategies someone can use to build stronger self-esteem?
If you’re struggling with low self-esteem, there are several practical things you can try to start rebuilding that inner sense of value.
Get Out of Your Head and Into the World
People with low self-esteem often get stuck in their heads, cycling through negative thoughts. One of the best antidotes to that mental chatter is action, especially helping others. Volunteering for a cause you care about, helping a neighbor or spending time at an animal shelter can help you feel purposeful and valued. And in giving your time or skills to someone else, you’re also showing yourself that you matter.
Limit Social Media Intake
If you find yourself constantly scrolling and feeling worse about yourself afterward, it might be time for a digital detox. Try reducing the time you spend on social media or even taking a break altogether. Many people report a boost in self-worth and clarity once they’re no longer comparing themselves to the highlight reels of others.
Use Affirmations with Action
Affirmations can be powerful, but only when backed by real behavior. Simply repeating “I am a healthy person” won’t move the needle unless you follow it up with choices that reinforce that belief.
For example:
- Affirmation: I am a healthy person.
- Supporting behaviors:
- Go for a 20-minute walk daily
- Replace soda with water
- Meditate five days a week
Commit to reinforcing your affirmation with action for 30 days. You’ll start to notice meaningful changes not just in how you feel, but how you show up.
Reflect Daily on What You Did Well
Take a few minutes each evening to write down two or three things you did well. This simple habit trains your brain to recognize your strengths and efforts, which boosts self-esteem over time.
Remove Barriers That Undermine Your Self-Worth
Sometimes, improving self-esteem isn’t just about what you do, it’s also about what you stop doing. If there are toxic relationships, excessive drinking or unhealthy environments holding you back, begin taking steps to distance yourself from them.
Try Mental Check-Ins Throughout the Day
Here’s how it works:
- Set an alarm to go off every 2–3 hours during your day.
- When it rings, pause and ask yourself:
- What have I been thinking about?
- What’s the quality of those thoughts? Are they helpful or hurtful?
- How am I feeling emotionally and physically right now?
- What do I need in this moment?
Maybe it’s a glass of water, a five-minute break in the sun or simply a deep breath. This practice builds self-awareness, helps reframe negative thoughts and encourages self-care in real time.
Building self-esteem isn’t about becoming someone different, it’s about remembering who you are underneath the noise of self-doubt, comparison and outside expectations. It’s a lifelong process of learning to value yourself, advocate for your needs and show up with self-compassion, even on the hard days.
If you missed the Magellan Minute, listen to the recording here.
