Self-endorsement is something important in the regimen of self-care. It means praising yourself and what you do, no matter how seemingly insignificant it happens to be.

Ever wonder what feeds our anxiety and/or depression? Why our sense of self-worth is always plummeting so low? Consequently, we deflect praise, deny our talents, even depreciate our efforts, undermine our achievements.

 The reason may often lie in our conditioning. It lies in how we are made to believe that self-endorsement is like self-praise or self-boasting. In fact, we have been made to believe that self-endorsement is something narcissistic. It should be avoided. We should hide our light under a bushel.

As a result, we start to hide in shadows, work from behind the scene and refrain from putting ourselves out there. This goes on until we forget to appreciate ourselves and get appreciated.

Does this sound like you? Do you often do the following:

• Tell yourself that you are unimportant person or not worthy enough?
• Tell yourself that the work that you do is insignificant or unimportant?
• Freeze up when someone praise you, something you are wearing, something you have done?
• Immediately tell the other that you simply did nothing.
  It wasn’t much.
  It wasn’t good enough!
  Anyone could have done this or could have done a far better job with it.
• Go into the self-berating or self-ridicule mode?

If this sounds like you then it is likely that you don’t feel very confident about yourself and your capabilities. It may also mean that you are probably are struggling with self-worth and self-esteem. Likewise, you are likely to feel anxious or suffer from social anxiety. It’s also likely that you feel depressed about life’s challenges and incredulity and the role you play in the larger scheme of things.

The lack of self-appreciation, as a practice, is not good. It leads to a host of other personality development and communication problems.

Thus, it is absolutely important to self-endorse yourself and your efforts every now and then. These are some of the ways you can do this:

Focus on the Progress

Life is all about result. Or so we are told! However, when we are too focused on results and outcomes, this obsession robs us from the awareness of our progress. It stops us from feeling good about ourselves, our individual quirks, and appreciating our skills and contribution.

To iterate, do strive for results, but also value whatever you have learnt. Value your growth along the way. Feel pride in whatever you have been done so far.

Stop fretting over whatever is left. Learn to live in and enjoy the moment and your contribution in it.

Give Yourself Value

Everything and everyone has value. While it is important to value the things and people and their contribution around us, it is equally important to value ourselves, as human beings, as women, soul sisters, nurturers, caregivers, workers.

Think twice before calling yourself as someone who isn’t smart, important, valuable, calling yourself a loser. Stop freezing up when people ask you what you do. Stop yourself from introducing yourself through any of these phrases:

 “struggling at school”

 “just a stay at home mom”

 “currently unemployed”

 “a struggling artist”

“a failed entrepreneur”

You are none of the above. In reality, you are:

You are not lost! You are just trying to find your direction.

Your contribution as a mom, as a caregiver enables your family to rise and thrive.

Your ideas and dreams are masterpieces in making.

Learn to Accept Praise

It is equally important to learn to accept praise graciously, without feeling awkward or embarrassed about it. There is no need to think that the person complimenting you is just trying to be polite.

There is no need to think that the person praising you has a hidden agenda. Even if there is a slight chance that that might be the case, firstly, try to live in the moment and re-frame your strategy later.

The Take Aways

The ability to feel good about yourself and what you do s very important. It means valuing your contribution, focusing on your progress, accepting others’ praise graciously. Do remember that self-endorsement is a part of taking better care of yourself.