Self-Esteem

1. Self-Esteem Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

2. You may have low self esteem and feel that you have little value. This is not true. You are a special, unique person who deserves to be alive and to be treated with dignity, compassion and respect. If you have low self esteem, you may make poor choices or avoid doing some things you really want to do. That can worsen your self esteem. There are many things you can do to help yourself feel better about yourself—raise your self esteem. Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

3. Develop a statement of your positive value.Carry it with you and read it over and over, every chance you get. Make signs with this message and hang them in prominent places around your home. Make an appreciation paper. At the top of a sheet of paper write “Things I Like About _____________ (Your Name).” Have friends, acquaintances, family members, etc., write an appreciative statement about you on it. When you read it, just accept it! Read it over and over for reinforcement. Keep it in a prominent place where you will see it often. Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

4. Take a risk or make some change in your life that you that you have wanted. Now may be the right time to begin taking some small or big steps toward making your life the way you want it to be. First decide what it is you want to do. Maybe you want to get a job, change jobs, find a new living space, or lose weight. I want to: _________________________ Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

5. Next, write the first step or steps you plan to take to do it. For instance, if you want to get a job, your first step might be to arrange an appointment with a vocational rehabilitation counselor. If you wanted to lose weight, your first steps might be to set up an appointment with a nutritionist and to stop eating foods that contain sugar. Step or steps I will take and when I will take these steps: Step _____________________ When I will do it ___________________________ Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

6. More things you can do to raise your self esteem • Make a collage of your life combining pictures, words and colors that show how great you are • Make a scrapbook of all your achievements, even things that may seem small like learning to tie your shoes. • Hang flattering pictures of yourself all around your living space • Tell a friend you want to compliment them for 5 minutes— then ask them to compliment you for five minutes • Arrange to spend time with people who like you and treat you well. Continued Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

7. Take good care of yourself in every way—treat yourself like your own best friend • Work on changing negative thoughts about yourself to positive ones • Read and do the activities in a self- help book on raising your self- esteem. You can find plenty of these at your local library Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com

8. Quick and Easy Ways to Raise Self-Esteem • Give yourself a pat on the back because you are great • Do something you enjoy • Do something that makes you laugh • Do something special for someone else • Ask for what you want and need for yourself. You deserve it! Developed by Mary Ellen Copeland PO Box 301, West Dummerston, VT 05357-0301 www.mentalhealthrecovery.com