People want to feel good about themselves, but manifesting that can be difficult. It's understandable why this is the case.

You possess an intimate knowledge of your own strengths and weaknesses. You understand yourself better than anyone else ever could. Your unique combination of positive attributes along with any shortcomings are known only to you.

So that’s where your challenges begin.

It's easy to get stuck in a loop of focusing on the negative aspects and worrying about fear of failure and how others perceive your flaws. If this goes unchecked, it can have a damaging effect on not only your mental health, but also create feelings of low self-esteem and even depression. It is important to recognize the positive aspects in life that so often go unnoticed or forgotten.

How to feel good about yourself

While external influences such as critics, naysayers, and toxic individuals may come into play in how we view ourselves, the reality is that no one else has power over our self-perception. We are the only ones who decide to either accept or reject their opinion of us; thus, they have a minimal role in maintaining our self-confidence. Instead, work on making friends with high vibrational people.

Here are 7 sure-fire ways to boost your confidence, nurture self appreciation and empower yourself.

1. Develop a healthy sense of self-awareness.

Uninterested in their own life paths, many people instead become addicted to observing others' lives, leaving them with little time or energy to focus on their own.

Spending time to gain a deeper understanding of your thoughts, feelings, and values is always worthwhile. Furthermore, it's essential that you become aware of both the positives and negatives within yourself as well as recognize your strengths and weaknesses.

Engaging in self-reflection and developing an introspective mindset can be incredibly impactful, allowing us to uncover the source of our thoughts, words, and actions as well as foresee their effects. By understanding this connection between cause and effect we attain a newfound degree of enlightenment that empowers future decisions.

Knowing your true identity vastly influences the choices, standards, values and principles you hold dear. It can even shape how you approach life decisions.

When you have an in-depth understanding of yourself, it can be incredibly empowering. You'll gain a greater sense of control and agency over your life which will give you the confidence to make decisions that are beneficial for your self-growth.

2. Change the inner self talk.

Most of the time, it is not what other people say that makes you feel bad about yourself. It is what you say to yourself.

The relentless inner monologue often causes harm by emphasizing your flaws and magnifying only your missteps. These negative thoughts can leave you feeling insignificant and helpless.

To silence your self-doubt and cease being a hindrance to yourself, start telling different stories. It is true that you are not infallible, but it's also true that you are just as capable as many others around you—if not more so!

Acknowledge and accept all that is good within you-- your ambitions, resilience, and dedication to reach success. You may have endured a few close calls or defeats along the way; however, your drive to triumph remains steadfast—and that's what counts!

Take pride in the fact that you're constantly working towards your goals, step by step. This will not only help to build your confidence but also make you feel valuable and appreciated.

By changing your inner talk, you can change the state of your health as confirmed by Dr. Stephan Stiris

3. Be proud of who you've become.

Despite your myriad of accomplishments, negative judgments or limiting beliefs might make you feel like all that matters are your shortcomings says Dr. Edenberg. This can lead to low self-esteem and a feeling of worthlessness if left unchecked. However, it is important to remember what makes you unique and valuable instead of dwelling on the things that bring you down.

To combat this difficult situation, separate yourself from those who only emphasize your shortcomings and instead surround yourself with positive individuals.

Take a pause every now and then to reflect on all the incredible accomplishments you've made in your life journey. Embrace yourself with gratitude for how far you've come!

You should be proud of yourself for having the courage to confront your challenges and persevere. Pat yourself on the back, as you truly deserve it! You have invested so much effort in personal growth, and now you can bask in the rewards: beholding your finest self.

4. Respect yourself and others.

You are the most significant individual in your life – a cosmic star that stands out amongst all others. You possess special capabilities, qualities and features not found anywhere else; reminding you that ‘you matter’ more than anything else.

If you desire to elevate your self-worth and foster a great sense of confidence, then start cherishing yourself, showing respect for who you are.

It does not matter what other people think of you. What matters is that you try.

Admiration for yourself and having a strong self-confidence will strengthen your sense of worthiness, making you feel capable and appreciated.

5. Set worthwhile goals for yourself.

Goals give your life purpose and meaning. They also show that you are growing and progressing in a positive direction. Having goals is like going on a journey to become better.

When you have clear objectives, it becomes easier to recognize the path ahead and focus on your destination.

Every day has something to anticipate, making it all the more fulfilling when you witness yourself closing in on your aspirations.

It doesn't matter what goals you set - the only thing that matters is they should be congruent with your values and make you feel motivated to put in maximum effort. When striving for those objectives, it should bring a sense of satisfaction that all your hard work was worth it.

6. Avoid comparing yourself with others.

Comparisons, in theory, can be beneficial; they allow us to assess our own progress and better ourselves against the others. In other words, comparisons are meant to motivate healthy competition with those around us. However, this is not always an accurate depiction of reality - excessive comparison can often hinder rather than aid self-improvement.

Comparing yourself to others is not a good idea. Most people compare themselves to people who are better than them. This makes them feel bad about themselves, like they are not good enough. And it takes away their happiness.

7. See things in perspective.

Life is not always easy. You will have good times when you feel happy and everything is going well. But you will also have bad times when things are not going the way you want them to. Sometimes your plans will fail, you will face problems, and you will hit rock bottom.

When life knocks you down, it can feel like everything is falling apart. You might feel like a loser, defeated, and demoralized. It is natural to feel dejected and helpless during these trying times.

Even though these difficult times might not last forever, they can still be really hard on you. You might feel frustrated and depressed when things are tough.

Remember that this is only a phase and it will end. It is not permanent.

One bad thing happening does not mean that everything is bad. One failure does not mean that you can never succeed.

Stand up tall and be strong. No one can defeat you unless you give up. You have the courage to start again. No matter how bad things look, it is not over until you stop trying. Never let giving up be an option.

If you have faith and you're determined to keep going, even when life is hard, you will always be happy and positive.