Building Self-esteem: Uplifting Others
Hey everyone! It is time for a new post in our Building Self-esteem series. Can you believe it is already week 6? Continuing our exploration of self-esteem, let's dive into a secret weapon often overlooked: uplifting others.
Why the positive feedback loop?
Think about it: when you make someone's day with a genuine compliment, a helping hand, or simply a listening ear, it creates a ripple effect. You witness the impact of your actions, reaffirming your own value and capabilities. It's like looking in a mirror reflecting kindness back at you.
But how do I start "uplifting" in real life?
The beauty lies in everyday moments:
- Compliment a classmate on their unique style or insightful comment. A little validation goes a long way! It needs to be genuine though!
- Volunteer your time for a cause you care about. Witnessing the positive change you contribute to strengthens your sense of purpose.
- Offer genuine support to a friend facing a challenge. Being there for someone reinforces your inner strength and empathy. It helps you find purpose
- Pay attention to small gestures. Holding the door open, offering a helping hand with groceries, or simply leaving a positive note – these micro-actions pack a punch.
- Remember, it's all about aligning your actions with your core values. What truly matters to you? Helping animals? Advocating for social justice? Protecting the environment? Find opportunities to uplift others in ways that connect to your passions. This authenticity further amplifies the self-esteem boost.
Building self-esteem on 7 Cups
7 Cups is also a great platform to help uplift others. Some ways you can do this on 7 Cups is:
- Taking the time to listen to someone’s story in a group setting
- Going to the needs reply queue and answering posts that resonate with you.
- Providing active listening support to a member as a listener
- Creating a forum post on a cause that matters to you and engaging with the people who comment.
- Taking on a leadership role that aligns with your passion and values.
Volunteering: The ultimate confidence superpower?
Studies show that volunteering significantly increases self-esteem and life satisfaction. Immersing yourself in a cause bigger than yourself cultivates a sense of purpose, belonging, and mastery. Plus, the skills you gain and the connections you make can open doors to future opportunities.
Bonus Tip!
If you are unsure what activity/services suit you best, then the core values exercise we did in the past can be of help. Look through the values you deem as most important and try and find activities that help you practice that value. If you can’t, then move to the important values.
Task of the week
For the next 7 days (preferably more) every day when you wake up, start your day with the intention that you will intend to do at least one good today. Look for that opportunity throughout the day. It can look like:
- Baking cookies for your family
- Donating to a charity of choice
- Giving a ride home to your friend/co-worker
- Helping someone with their groceries.
I am confident that most of us already do good on 7 Cups so that is why you are encouraged to find opportunities offline for this specific activity.
Do your act of kindness/service for today and share with us how it made you feel. (You can choose to keep the act hidden or share it).
Please note this is a required activity if you are working towards the braving self badge. You will be asked what activity you did for 7 days that was focused outwards.
Attention! Next week our post will focus on learning from others' experiences. If you wish to share your own experience and tips on how to build self-esteem in terms of what worked for you, please reach out to me asap so you can be featured in the post.
Do your act of kindness/service for today and share with us how it made you feel.
I chose to see a good quality in someone and expressed it to them. Seeing them smile and be happy made me feel warm and grateful.
@Hope act of the day I baked my mom and her husband cookies. It made them very happy, so it made me smile because I like making people happy
@Hope
I feel happy most people see as a naturally uplifting person and I am actually very good at carming people down and helping them to feel more hopeful.
This week I have been articles in support of certain people and I also gave something's to poor people and checked in on relatives that they are doing ok
@Hope
Do your act of kindness/service for today and share with us how it made you feel. (You can choose to keep the act hidden or share it).
I feel good about myself. I usually focus on myself and on selfish needs. But when I do something good to others, I feel like I have been kind to someone.
@Hope
Do your act of kindness/service for today and share with us how it made you feel.
Today, I helped a stranger by holding the door open for them when their hands were full. It was such a small thing but I could see they appreciated it and it felt good to make their day a little easier.
Also, it made me feel more connected to people around me and added a bit of positivity to my day. 😊
@Hope
A couple weeks ago I put together these beautiful little gift bags that included, 2 positive affirmation cards, a friendship bracelet and a folded origami crane for good luck. I have been leaving these for strangers in various public places.
Daily I work on myself by starting the day off with Gratitude journaling. This journal is specific to gratitude and has writing prompts for each day. As a mother and nurse I know that bettering myself makes me a more present mother and nurse.
@Hope
I helped a college applicant with their application today. I'm also still offering support to others in the community by giving feedback.
@Hope
Through the work I do I am required to engage in act of kindness/service in order to be able to fulfill my job descriptions. However, one of ways I act in kindness/service outside of my work and 7 Cups is on the weekend for the last almost 2 years is community outreach within the homeless/youth/domestic violence populations in a specific at risk city in my area.
Another way is being a 988 and crisis textline volunteer weekly. Which both individually require about 4hrs a week to fulfill my role.
Another way is during the holidays I volunteer to facility support groups through a local agency so people who may not be able to celebrate the holidays for one reason or another do not have to be alone.
It always feels so special when I engage in these acts of kindness/service, especially because I consistently am a part of seeing how people are truly grateful for the things that a lot of people take for granted and don't have to necessarily wonder how to access them. For example shelter, food, clothes, health care, education....
