swimBe kinder to yourself.Unsplash / Haley Phelps
Self-esteem is a wonderful but delicate thing. When our self-esteem is high, we feel more resilient, we're less vulnerable to anxiety and rejection, and less cortisol — the stress hormone — is released into our bloodstream.
The positives are obvious, but improving self-esteem can be challenging, especially if we've experienced setbacks in the past. In a blog post on TED, the psychologist Guy Winch, who has 20 years of experience working with patients, says the problem is that our self-esteem is rather unstable anyway, as it can fluctuate daily, even hourly.
Another complication is how our careers shape our perception of our own worth. For example, a chef would more likely be offended if you didn't like the meal they cooked for you than someone who doesn't cook for a living. Winch says this is because cooking is a significant aspect of their identity.
He outlined five ways to help improve self-esteem and how to better deal with the blows we experience.

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