Who Says Self-Praise Stinks! More Self-Love Through Self-Praise

Our inner voice is often our harshest critic. We tend to treat ourselves far more unkindly and strictly than we would treat the people closest to us. It's time to change that. A self-compliment means acknowledging your own strengths and achievements — giving yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. Shifting the focus away from your own mistakes and weaknesses toward the positive aspects of who you are has a range of health-promoting effects, which become even more pronounced with regular self-praise.

First and foremost, self-esteem is boosted as negative self-talk and self-doubt are reduced and a caring, compassionate relationship with oneself is established. Closely linked to this is a stronger trust in one's own abilities and decisions. This can help you feel more confident in difficult situations and better equipped to handle challenges. A strengthened sense of self-confidence and a greater degree of resilience make it easier to cope with stress, demanding situations, and crises, as you are less likely to be thrown off course. Regular self-praise therefore supports mental health in a variety of ways. Another positive effect is increased motivation and improved performance. When you acknowledge and reward yourself, you are often encouraged to keep pushing forward and to pursue your personal goals.