Breaking Free from Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem is something I battled with for years. Growing up, so many factors contributed to it, shaping how I saw myself and interacted with the world.

The Root of My Struggles

1. An Embarrassing Experience

A situation that defined most of my childhood, teenage years, and early adulthood left a lasting impact on me. (Hopefully, you will get to learn more about this hidden and untold part of my life in Scars, my ongoing memoir.)

2. Verbal Abuse

I grew up around adults who were very expressive. I didn’t get beaten much because I rarely erred, but I was lambasted at the slightest mistake. It didn’t help that I was an emotional child.

3. Body Shaming

Oh Lord! How I suffered from this. I was never the ‘curvy’ girl. I was tall and almost skinny throughout my teenage years (even now, there isn’t much difference). My classmates, neighbors, and even my own family made me the butt of their jokes. Tinrinbeku, Lepa Shandi—all the not-so-beautiful names for slim girls. A particular classmate even made it a duty to call me tiny insect every chance he got.

All these factors combined reduced my self-esteem. I felt like I was never enough, never loved—a misfit. It got so bad that I would have panic attacks whenever I was asked to go outdoors. How I wished for the superpower of invisibility.

The Turning Point

But one day, I decided I was no longer going to be that girl—the girl who hid behind the curtain, weeping quietly after being called lepa; the girl who walked with drooped shoulders, wishing to be invisible; the girl who let her worth be defined by others.

I made up my mind:

• I was going to shine my light unapologetically.

• I would define my worth on my own terms.

• I would love myself, unrepentantly.

And that decision changed everything.

I discovered that I couldn't control what people said about me—they would always talk. But I had the power to control how I responded. And right there, I found my superpower.

Still Healing, Still Growing

I won’t pretend it’s always easy. There are still days when the words come heavier than I am prepared for. But now, I know how to handle them better than before.

I am still healing.

I am still learning to love myself.

I am still building my self-esteem.

But one thing is certain—I am not the girl I used to be.

Your Worth is Yours to Define

So dear reader, if I can rise above low self-esteem, so can you. 

“ Stop seeking your worth from others.

 Be worthy in your own eyes too. ”

Have you ever struggled with low self-esteem? What helped you overcome it? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you.

~ Aurora