7 Strategies to Boost Your Confidence and Self-Esteem

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139:14

What is your definition of healthy self-esteem?

Does it involve your relationship with God?

Our concept of self-esteem begins with how we view ourselves. Does the image you see in yourself reflect who you are in Christ?

In Jeremiah 1:5, the Bible tells us that God knew us before He formed us in our mother’s womb. Our spiritual view of how we see ourselves, our self-esteem, determines how we feel about ourselves and who we believe we are or can become. If you believe you do not measure up, how can you become the person God created you to be?

Whether you see yourself as strong, worthy, or capable or you see yourself as weak, unworthy and incapable shapes your self-esteem. Paul tells us in Romans 12:3 to “think soberly” of ourselves. If you can be honest with yourself, you will be able to relate to others in a healthy manner.

Our early years can shape our self-esteem in good and positive ways or it can make us feel less than and not worthy. The concept you have of yourself should not be shaped by the naysayers or the negative events that have happened to you, but by understanding who you are in Christ.

Having an amplified self-esteem or one that is lacking, both misrepresent the reality of Romans 12:3, to think soberly of oneself. Are you being honest with how you feel about yourself? Are you allowing feelings of inferiority to rob you of seeing yourself and believing in yourself in a more positive light, one that start with “This is who I am in Christ?” Don’t let the enemy rob you of this joy.

What are the lies you are believing that are contradicting the Words the Lord Himself has declared over you?

That you are God’s; created in His Holy image. Genesis 1:27
That God crowned you with glory and honor. Psalm 8:5
That God lay His hands upon you, that He guides you, and that He ordains your days. Psalm 139:1-18
That you are a child of God through faith. Galatians 3:26-27
That you are God’s handiwork created in Jesus Christ to do good works. Ephesians 2:10

How you see yourself and how you think of yourself matters. Are you feeling loved today? Who are the people in your corner, cheering for you and celebrating with you? Healthy self-esteem means seeing our worth and value through the eyes of Jesus.

God teaches us that the greatest command is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

As I read these words, I consider what it means to love others, if I cannot even love myself. Is that possible? If we are God’s, and God is love, we are love. What does it look like to love yourself? Where then do you get your confidence, healthy self-esteem, and your value and worth? Scripture is all we need to confirm that this comes from God.

In practical ways, this might look like:

Not comparing yourself to others, but instead is a friend or ally you can learn from.
Creating healthy boundaries that empower us over how others treat us, which contribute to a sense of psychological safety and help us feel more confident and in control of our lives.
Not criticizing yourself, hating yourself, or falling into the guilt or self-blame game. Instead, use words that God would use to describe you. Criticizing yourself undermines who God says you are: Chosen, victorious, redeemed, accepted, beautiful, loved …
Surrounding yourself with safe people that care about you and your well-being. People who support and encourage you, who you can truly be yourself with and feel vulnerable with.
Giving yourself grace when you make a mistake. It’s okay to fall and try again. Embrace your imperfections. We all have them. Grace over criticism is God’s way.
Be open to trying new things to help you build confidence. It doesn’t mean you have to be great at the new thing. It’s the experience, the adventure, the chance you take that builds confidence. Stop thinking, “What if I fail?” or “What if I am not good at it?” Reframe your beliefs into words that empower you. What if you enjoy it? What if you make a new friend? What if you discover something wonderful about yourself?
Explore, set goals that motivate you toward the future, take risks, and celebrate both your efforts and accomplishments. You never know what you can accomplish, if you don’t create opportunities for yourself.