Using Meditation to Boost Self-Esteem

Many people have a low opinion of themselves as they progress through life, affecting their ability to interact socially, enjoy life and be decisive about the things they want. In normal everyday life, we are constantly identified with the mind and the positive or negative things it feeds us; in cases of low self-esteem, the mind is constantly returning to the same circles of denigration and despair which might have been there as far back as childhood.

 
 

Developing a practice of meditation can be of some help in combating these feelings. By stilling the mind through meditation, one is introduced to a deeper part of one's being which lies beyond the mind's judgments of acceptance or rejection. We have all had experiences 'in the heart', like for example when watching a sunset or being touched by a moment of kindness, experiences which seem to point to a deeper sense of self than that experienced by the vacillating mind. Meditation helps us have these experiences more often, and gradually identify with them instead of the mind's constant self-rejection.

 
 

There are many different techniques for the beginner to try, and some will work better than others depending on the individual nature of the person. Meditation is best done in a space dedicated solely for its use, perhaps in front of a little table containing inspiring things that evoke this deeper more uplifting part of you - for example flowers, candles, or pictures/statues that inspire you. There are many ways you can sit during meditation, but by far the most important thing is to keep your back straight, which means you can even use a chair. Here are some techniques to use specifically for promoting self-esteem:

 
 

Identify yourself with the heart rather than the mind. You can begin the meditation by imagining you have no mind, only the heart. You can even say to yourself 'I am not the mind, I am the heart' - emphatically rejecting the mind's negativity. You can think back to when you were a child, with an undeveloped mind, running around and always in the heart. Try and let this sweet childlike feeling permeate your whole body.

 
 

Use an object of concentration. Concentrating on a flower evokes in the beauty and innocence of the heart which the flower also embodies; similarly concentrating on a candle evokes the inner flame, the inner urge for deeper truth. When breathing in you can imagine these qualities entering you from the object and becoming part of your being, and you can imagine their negative opposites leaving you.

A good way to overcome self-esteem is to do things you are good at. Meditation can help you overcome the inner resistance to do this. You can repeat the English word 'dynamism' silently, but powerfully and forcefully, invoking the inner strength you need to overcome obstacles such as fear. Another good English word to repeat is 'destined', invoking the inner conviction that your life has a unique purpose which cannot be performed by anyone else, even if you haven't found it yet. Then as you try different activities, you can try and rely on this inner sense to tell you what to do instead of being influenced by than the acceptance or rejection of others.

 
 

 
 

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