I suffered from low self-esteem until I mastered these 8 body language signs

There’s no denying it, it was a tough time:

I was struggling with low self-esteem and it was taking a toll on my life. I felt like I was constantly under a cloud, unable to see my worth and it was affecting everything – from my relationships to my career.

Despite the countless self-help books and therapy sessions, the change was not coming. The doubts and insecurities were still there, looming in the background.

Then out of nowhere, it hit me.

It wasn’t some magical revelation or dramatic event. It was something as simple as body language that proved to be the game changer.

Now, I am about to share with you how mastering these 8 body language signs transformed my self-esteem and turned my life around.

1) I understood the power of posture

Growing up, I always heard the phrase, “stand tall, shoulders back.” It seemed like just an old saying without any real meaning. But as I started to grapple with low self-esteem, this phrase took on a new significance.

Suddenly, it wasn’t just about physical appearance but about how I perceived myself.

I realized that when I slumped or hunched, it wasn’t just my body that felt low – my self-esteem took a hit too.

And when I stood tall, with my shoulders back and head high, something amazing happened.

I felt stronger, more confident and more in control. It was like my body was telling my mind, “You’ve got this.”

This understanding didn’t happen overnight, but over time, as I consciously worked on my posture, I began to notice a shift in my self-esteem.

Then it wasn’t just about looking confident. It was about feeling it too.

Posture became my first step towards mastering body language and building self-esteem.

2) I realized the impact of eye contact

In the past, I often found myself looking away or down when I was talking to people. This was especially true when I was in a situation where I felt intimidated or unsure of myself. It was like my eyes were giving away my lack of confidence.

I started to pay more attention to this and made a conscious effort to maintain eye contact during conversations. Initially, it felt uncomfortable, almost like I was challenging the person I was talking to. But over time, I realized it was not about defiance, but about connection.

Maintaining eye contact showed that I was engaged in the conversation, that I valued what the other person had to say. More importantly, it also showed that I valued my own thoughts and contributions.

It was a small change, but it had a big impact. The more I practiced maintaining eye contact, the more confident I became. 

And the more confident I became, the easier it became to look people in the eye.

3) I discovered the secret of a genuine smile

I remember a time when I was at a social event, feeling completely out of place. I was self-conscious, awkward, and every conversation felt like a test I was failing. Then, someone took a photo and later when I saw it, I was taken aback.

In the photo, my smile didn’t reach my eyes. It looked forced, almost painful. That’s when I realized that my low self-esteem was not only affecting me internally but was also clearly visible to others through my body language.

This realization hit me hard and I decided to change this aspect of my body language.

I started practicing in front of a mirror, focusing on smiling genuinely. It felt silly at first but gradually, I noticed that when my smile was genuine, it made me feel happier and more confident.

As I continued to practice, eventually it became more natural for me to smile genuinely in real life situations too. 

4) I learned the importance of open body language

In my journey to boost my self-esteem, I stumbled upon a fact about body language. Apparently, our bodies can unconsciously close off when we feel insecure or self-conscious. 

This can involve crossing arms, hunching over, or avoiding direct eye contact.

Upon realizing this, I made a conscious effort to keep my body language open.

I started uncrossing my arms and legs during conversations, kept my head up and tried to face people directly when talking to them.

It felt strange at first, like I was exposing myself to scrutiny. But with time, this open body language started feeling natural and even empowering.

It was as if by opening up physically, I was inviting positive interactions and experiences into my life. 

5) I embraced the power of purposeful movement

As I started to understand the impact of my body language, I became curious about the way I moved. I realized that often, my movements were hesitant, almost as if I was apologizing for taking up space.

I decided to change this.

I began to walk with purpose, move with intention. Instead of shying away, I started to occupy my space confidently.

At first, it felt foreign, as if I was pretending to be someone else. But the more I moved with confidence, the more confident I felt. It was like a positive feedback loop.

It’s fascinating how something as simple as the way you move can affect your state of mind. By moving purposefully, I was not only projecting confidence but also absorbing it.

Purposeful movement became another cornerstone in my journey towards higher self-esteem. 

6) I learned the value of taking up space

I noticed a pattern: when I felt low or insecure, I had a tendency to make myself smaller. I’d fold into myself, as if trying to take up as little space as possible.

Recognizing this, I started to consciously take up more space.

I spread out my things when working at a cafe, leaned back comfortably in meetings instead of hunching over the table, and stopped pulling in my elbows when walking down the street.

This was not about being inconsiderate or invading other’s space. It was about allowing myself the room I deserved.

It was a subtle shift, but an empowering one. The more space I allowed myself to take up, the more valued and confident I felt.

7) I welcomed the art of mirroring

I stumbled upon the concept of mirroring – subtly copying the gestures, expressions or posture of the person you’re interacting with.

It was an interesting concept to me. I started to experiment with it in my conversations and interactions.

I noticed that when I mirrored the positive body language of others, it not only made them feel more comfortable around me, but it also boosted my own confidence. It was like I was borrowing their confidence through their body language.

Moreover, by consciously choosing who to mirror, I found myself surrounded by more positive and confident people. This had a profound impact on my self-esteem.

8) I embraced the connection between mind and body

Throughout my journey, one key understanding stood out – the connection between mind and body is incredibly powerful.

I used to think that my feelings of low self-esteem were purely a mental issue. But as I delved into body language, I learned that our bodies can both reflect and influence our mental state.

The more I practiced confident body language, the more confident I felt within, and vice versa.

This understanding was a game-changer for me. It wasn’t just about mimicking confident body language, but truly feeling it from within. This was when I saw the most significant shift in my self-esteem.

Understanding and embracing the connection between mind and body became the most crucial part of my journey towards overcoming low self-esteem. It was a transformation that started from the outside but eventually changed me from within.

The takeaway

If you’ve related to the body language signs I shared, it’s likely you too have grappled with low self-esteem at some point.

But here’s the empowering part – your self-esteem is not set in stone.

With self-awareness and conscious practice, you can harness the power of body language to transform your self-perception.

Begin by noticing your posture, your movements, your expressions. Pay attention to how you occupy space. Reflect on how your body movements might be a mirror of your inner state.

Once you’ve identified these patterns, challenge yourself to make small changes. Stand taller. Maintain eye contact. Move with purpose. And remember, the goal isn’t just to appear confident, but to truly feel it inside.

It might feel awkward or unnatural at first. Change often does. But with patience and persistence, these new patterns of body language can become second nature.

As the renowned psychologist Amy Cuddy said, “Don’t fake it till you make it. Fake it till you become it.” In other words, our actions can lead to changes in our thoughts and emotions.

So take heart in knowing that every small step you take towards mastering body language is a step towards a more confident, authentic you.