How To Develop Your Sense Of Self, According To Therapists

Your sense of self is essentially your self-image. Having “strong self-confidence” simply means knowing who you really are and what you stand for, according to the holistic psychotherapist Sonia Fregoso, LMFT. It begins with evaluating and concretizing qualities such as your beliefs, values, desires, needs, desires, principles, truths, beliefs, behaviors, roles, likes, dislikes, etc.

“A sense of self is vital to our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It becomes our inner compass for every interaction with others, ”she says. "Your self-esteem tells you what boundaries to set for others and [how] decisions to be made that serve you, and eventually flourish."

Think of it this way: your self-esteem acts as the bouncer, reminding you of your higher purpose. You will feel okay to let go of what is not right for you because you know that you are energetically making room for the paths that you are really meant to be. It easily centers what is best for you and helps you navigate various complex situations.

“This knowledge of yourself encompasses all of your identities, beliefs, values, traits and intersections of these concepts,” says Fregoso. She notes that other people inevitably affect the way you see yourself, but ultimately it's an internal process. “That is not to say that our sense of self does not come from external influences. Some of it. But our sense of self comes largely from our definition and view of ourselves. Only you can define who you are. "