Self-Esteem
The concept of self-advocacy is founded on believing in yourself. In order to believe in yourself, one needs to know their own strengths and believe they are worthwhile. People with low self-esteem often struggle with being a self-advocate.
Improving one’s self-esteem can be a challenging task. Having a method or process that helps you improve the way you feel about yourself can be powerful. The American Addiction Centers Resource suggests people follow four overall methods: Assess, Appreciate, Support, and Improve.
Exercises to Raise Self-Esteem
Following specific exercises to improve self-esteem can be an effective start to advocating for yourself. These exercises come from the American Addiction Centers Resource.
- Meet with a trusted friend and dedicate 10 minutes to complimenting each other
- Read a book about building self-esteem
- Write down everything good about yourself and read it back to yourself at night before bed
- Do a good dead for your community
Steps to Being a Self-Advocate
Self-advocacy can be challenging. Some suggest that you follow steps to make the process easier and less overwhelming. The following ten steps come from mentalhealthrecovery.com. They provide a basic plan and strategy to become an effective self-advocate.
- Believe in Yourself
- Know your Rights
- Decide what you Want
- Get all the Facts
- Plan a Strategy
- Gather Support
- Target your Efforts
- Express yourself Clearly
- Assert yourself Calmly
- Be Firm and Persistent
The video below can provide additional information on self-advocacy and when to speak up for yourself.
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