Having a positive sense of self can help your life in many ways. If you’re struggling to feel confident with who you are as an adult, you can try several methods to build self-esteem so that you’ll be able to face the world with greater confidence. Here are six ways that adults can improve self-esteem.

1. Improve Your Fitness

Improving your fitness isn’t just about enhancing your appearance. A stronger, healthier body can help you feel more confident in your own skin. By improving your physical fitness, you’ll develop new physical capabilities that will allow you to feel more in control of your body and life. You’ll also be able to shed unwanted pounds and develop better muscle tone, which can also boost your self-esteem. Eating foods that are high in nutrients and low in processed additives and trying to get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week will help you achieve your fitness goals.

2. Eliminate Negativity

Negative thoughts, situations, and people can take a toll on your self-esteem. Eliminating negativity in your life might mean having to change jobs or cut ties with people who don’t bring positivity to your life. If negative thoughts are difficult to overcome, seeing a counselor or another mental health professional can help you move past challenges.

3. Work on Your Imperfections

We all have parts of ourselves that we are self-conscious about. Do something about it. If you always smile with your mouth closed it may be because you might be feeling more self-conscious because of dental imperfections that detract from opening up with others. Getting braces to straighten teeth or wearing a retainer to correct misalignment issues can make a big difference in your smile’s appearance. You may also want to consider seeing a cosmetic dentist for teeth whitening or dental veneers that can further improve the look of teeth.

4. Speak Your Mind

People with low self-esteem sometimes have trouble expressing their thoughts and often keep quiet over the fear of being judged negatively by others. You shouldn’t be afraid to share thoughts and opinions during work meetings or other social gatherings. Making an effort to become more assertive while still maintaining good mannerisms can make a difference in how others view you and how you view yourself.

5. Take Time to Reflect

Taking at least a few moments of your day to reflect on your inner thoughts while tuning out the world around you can help you develop a better sense of self-awareness and enhance the way that you feel about yourself. Yoga and meditation are two great activities that you can try doing during your time of self-reflection to put your body, mind, and spirit into better alignment.

6. Move Away

Many people don’t realize how bad their surroundings are until they are in greener pastures. We are human beings that have a ridiculously high threshold for adaptability for our survival. Similarly to the lobster that got cooked in lukewarm water and didn’t feel the temperature rising till it was boiled. We may not realize how much our self-esteem issues come from a toxic environment. There is no shame in moving somewhere else where nobody knows your name. A new start can be refreshing and redemptive.

Even as an adult, you can still take measures to improve the way that you view yourself. By bolstering your self-esteem, you’ll be able to conquer new challenges and add more positivity to your life with greater ease.