Different self-esteem challenges call for different kinds of support and resources.
Improving self-esteem is possible with tools, therapy, and books.
Self-esteem resources can strengthen confidence through exercises & supportive guidance.
Self-esteem is one of those things we know matters, but improving it can feel confusing, frustrating, or overwhelming.
If you’ve ever tried to “think positively” or just feel more confident and found it didn’t work, you’re not alone.
The good news is that self-esteem is not fixed; it’s a skill that is shaped by habits, experiences, beliefs, and the way we talk to ourselves day-to-day. With the right tools and a bit of consistency, self-esteem can be strengthened in practical, meaningful ways over time.
In this article, we’ll guide you to the self-esteem resources best suited to you. Whether it is hands-on exercises, worksheets, therapy approaches, or books, you will find what works for you here.
Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our five positive psychology tools for free. These engaging, science-based exercises will help you effectively deal with difficult circumstances and give you the tools to improve the resilience of your clients, students, or employees.
For some people, simple daily exercises can gradually shift how they feel about themselves.
If you’re searching for a starting place, try these simple practices to see which ones work for you. Most effective self-esteem exercises tend to revolve around a few core areas, beginning with challenging negative self-talk.
We all have an internal voice, but for many people, it can be heavily critical. Exercises help you notice harshly critical or negative thoughts, question them, and replace them with more balanced alternatives (Schiraldi, 2016).
Short, simple, structured practices are among the most effective ways to build self-esteem because they move you from thinking about change to taking action. A great place to explore guided activities is our article on self-esteem activities.
If you want something more targeted, try the evidence-based exercises in this article about how to boost self-esteem.
Or, if you prefer something you can print and work through at your own pace, there are free worksheets available in our article, packed with practical self-esteem worksheets.
Low self-esteem is often accompanied by a blindness to your character strengths (Rouault et al., 2022). When you know your strengths, structured prompts help you actively recognize what you’re good at, what you value, and what you bring to situations (Mruk, 2013).
Also, people with low self-esteem tend to be their own harshest critics. Self-compassion practices guide you to respond to yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a friend (Muris & Otgaar, 2023).
Changes can be subtle. Writing things down in a journal, whether they’re small wins or shifts in thinking, helps you see that progress is happening, even if it feels slow.
Consistent practice matters more than intensity. You don’t need to overhaul your entire mindset overnight. In fact, trying to do too much too quickly can backfire. Small, repeated exercises performed consistently create lasting change (Schiraldi, 2016).
Think of it like building a muscle. Five minutes a day of intentional reflection or challenging negative thoughts can be more powerful than a deep exploration you never repeat.
If you’re unsure where to begin, you can start by writing down one thing you did well each day or one negative thought you challenged and reframed with self-compassion (Muris & Otgaar, 2023). That’s enough to get the momentum going.
Professional Support & Self-Esteem Resources
While self-help tools can be incredibly effective, there are times when self-esteem challenges run deeper and professional support can make a real difference (Mruk, 2013).
If you’re curious about different therapeutic approaches, this article on self-esteem therapy provides a helpful overview.
Several evidence-based therapies are particularly effective for improving self-esteem, including cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns. This approach helps to challenge and reframe critical or distorted thinking (Berg et al., 2022).
Meanwhile, schema therapy goes deeper by looking at long-standing patterns, known as schemas, formed in childhood. It’s especially helpful if your self-esteem issues are deep-rooted or repetitive (Nosrati et al., 2025).
Finally, compassion-focused therapy can help you develop a kinder, more supportive relationship with yourself, particularly if self-criticism is a problem (Muris & Otgaar, 2023).
You might benefit from professional support if your self-esteem has been low for a long time or you feel stuck in patterns you can’t shift on your own. Professional support is also helpful if your self-worth is tied to past experiences or relationships or if self-criticism feels constant or overwhelming (Mruk, 2013).
Therapy provides something self-help tools can’t always provide in the form of guided, personalized support. A mental health professional can help you understand your patterns and actively work through them.
Reading books on self-esteem can be a powerful companion to professional support, especially when they’re grounded in psychology and practical strategies. If you’re looking for recommendations, you can explore this list in our article on self-esteem books.
The most helpful books tend to do three things well:
They explain how to develop self-worth. Understanding why you feel the way you do can be incredibly validating and often reduces self-blame.
Self-esteem books can help you spot common thinking patterns, especially cognitive distortions such as all-or-nothing thinking or harsh self-judgment.
Books about self-esteem often provide practical strategies and tools to apply in your daily life (Schiraldi, 2016).
However, reading alone doesn’t create change. It’s easy to consume a lot of valuable information without applying it. If you find an idea that resonates, try applying it in a small way the same day.
Change happens when you take small steps and repeat them daily.
Self-Help-Based Self-Esteem Resources
If you want a broader, more in-depth understanding of theories of self-esteem and strategies to apply in the long term, these self-esteem resources are worth exploring. Take a look at our article exploring evidence-based ways to improve self-esteem.
Understanding self-worth and how to develop it is crucial for building self-esteem. This article explores the topic of self-worth in more detail. Our article about self-esteem research goes even deeper. It’s one thing to try exercises. It’s another to understand why they work and how they work. Understanding can increase your motivation to try them out.
These self-esteem resources will help you connect the science behind self-esteem with real-life practical strategies. Understanding the difference between confidence and deeper self-worth can also help you see how patterns like perfectionism or comparison affect your self-esteem.
When you combine knowledge with action, motivation increases, and your progress will feel more intentional and sustainable (Schiraldi, 2016).
A Take-Home Message
This extensive guide to self-esteem resources is meant to help you build a steadier, more supportive relationship with who you are, rather than becoming endlessly confident or never doubting yourself.
This can include speaking to yourself with more fairness and compassion, and less harshness, recognizing your strengths and drawing upon them, all while allowing yourself to be imperfect.
Whether you start with small daily exercises, dive into deeper psychological insights, or seek professional support, each step matters. You don’t have to do everything at once. Pick one exercise that appeals to you and try it consistently. See what shifts.
If you’ve ever felt like your confidence rises and falls depending on how well you’re performing, you’re not imagining it.
What’s next?
In the next article, we’ll explore this idea further through the lens of impostor syndrome and self-esteem and why so many capable people still feel like they’re not enough. You may also benefit from reading more about the important distinctions related to healthy vs. fragile self-esteem.
What is the best way to start improving self-esteem?
Start by taking small and practical steps. Daily exercises like identifying strengths and challenging negative thoughts are often the most effective ways forward.
Do self-esteem books actually work?
They can, especially when combined with action. Books provide insight, but change happens when you apply what you learn consistently by setting aside five to 10 minutes a day to practice short exercises.
References
Berg, M., Lindegaard, T., Flygare, A., Sjöbrink, J., Hagvall, L., Palmebäck, S., & Andersson, G. (2022). Internet-based CBT for adolescents with low self-esteem: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 51(5), 388–407. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2022.2060856
Mruk, C. J. (2013). Self-esteem and positive psychology: Research, theory, and practice. Springer Publishing Company.
Muris, P., & Otgaar, H. (2023). Self-esteem and self-compassion: A narrative review and meta-analysis on their links to psychological problems and well-being. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 16, 2961–2975. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S402455
Nosrati, N., Rahmanian, M., Alibakhshi, S. Z., & Moghanloo, M. (2025). A comparison of the effectiveness of schema therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on self-esteem and psychological well-being of incarcerated women. International Journal of Education and Cognitive Sciences, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.ijecs.229
Rouault, M., Will, G. J., Fleming, S. M., & Dolan, R. J. (2022). Low self-esteem and the formation of global self-performance estimates in emerging adulthood. Translational Psychiatry, 12, Article 272. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02031-8
Schiraldi, G. R. (2016). The self-esteem workbook. New Harbinger Publications.
About the author
Jo Nash, Ph.D., began her career in mental health nursing before working as a service user advocate and in mental health policy research. After gaining her Ph.D. in Psychotherapy Studies, Jo was a Lecturer in Mental Health at the University of Sheffield for over a decade. She has trained in two mindfulness-based interventions, ACT and MBCT. Jo currently coaches neurodivergent and highly sensitive adults where she applies positive psychology using a strengths-based, solution-focused approach.
Self-esteem is one of those things we know matters, but improving it can feel confusing, frustrating, or overwhelming.
While self-help tools can be incredibly effective, there are times when self-esteem challenges run deeper and professional support can make a real difference (Mruk, 2013).
