Self-esteem plays a role in everything we do. It helps us feel good about ourselves, and gives us the courage to try new things. A healthy dose of self esteem can give you the strength to do what you know is right, even when everyone else is saying something different. It can also help you handles the ups and downs of life with a positive outlook.

Sometime our self-esteem begins to waver when we surround ourselves with people who always look for the downside of life. Negativism can be very contagious, so take special care not to follow their lead in the way you look at yourself or life.

Our health can also play a direct role in how good we feel about ourselves. When we are overweight we may have the tendency to only concentrate on the bad things about ourselves, and forget all the great stuff! Sometimes, hormones can send us into a tizzy, leaving us frustrated and overwhelmed at even the simplest task.

It's important to recognize what you can change about yourself and what you can't. If you're upset about something that can be changed than do it! Otherwise, learn to live with that thing you may not like, and look for ways to see the wonderfulness it offers you.

Your diet and exercise can have a lot to do with the way you look and feel about yourself on a regular basis. Teens often find their self-esteem dwindling when they discover that their face has turned into a field of pimples. Yet, just cutting back on sweets and soda can help alleviate much of the problem.

Adults too can find themselves feeling sluggish and down when they don't eat a well-balanced diet. No one feels good about themselves when they feel physically exhausted and ill all of the time. A great way to start building your self-esteem is by building up your body. Eat well. Get enough rest and exercise. You'll look better, feel better and have a better outlook on life. When your body is fit, it works better and gives you the energy and resources to handle anything that comes along!

The nice thing about self-esteem is that it's never too late to start building a better attitude, a better body and a better life. The first step is taking care of your physical body so that it can take care of your mental and emotional one.