You’re Awesome, But You Don’t Believe It? Here’s How Therapy Can Help You See the Light (and Maybe Stop Crying in the Grocery Store)

So, you’re sitting on your couch, half-eating a bag of chips, and half-wondering why that one awkward thing you did in 8th grade still haunts you. Congratulations! You’re officially a human with feelings, which means you’ve probably struggled with self-esteem at some point. But don’t worry—you’re in good company. Beyoncé’s been there too. (Probably. I mean, she’s human, right?)

But here’s the twist: You don’t have to spend your life avoiding mirrors and dodging compliments like they’re surprise pop quizzes. Building self-esteem is possible. And therapy? Well, therapy is like your personal cheerleader—but without the pom-poms or the relentless positivity of a Disney movie character.

1. Step One: Stop Listening to Your Inner Critic—They’re a Total Jerk

If your inner critic were a person, they’d be the kind who eats loudly in a quiet room or insists on telling you about their vegan keto raw cleanse at Thanksgiving dinner. In other words, your inner critic sucks. They don’t know what they’re talking about, yet they’re constantly yapping, telling you you’re not good enough, smart enough, or whatever enough.

Therapy is like calling out your inner critic’s B.S. with the help of a professional referee (aka therapist). Your therapist will help you recognize when your brain is being a drama queen, blowing up minor flaws like they’re the end of civilization. Suddenly, that awkward wave you gave to the wrong person feels less like a catastrophe and more like… well, something everyone else forgot ten seconds later.

2. “Feel Your Feelings” Isn’t Just a Therapy Slogan—It’s a Battle Cry!

You might think you’re a master of emotions because you’ve watched “The Notebook” without crying. But real emotional processing? That’s a whole different ballgame, my friend. Therapy teaches you how to sit with your feelings without immediately jumping into your favorite coping mechanism (like stress-eating an entire pizza or watching six hours of cat videos).

With a therapist, you’ll get comfy with uncomfortable feelings and learn that being human means sometimes feeling like a hot mess. And guess what? That’s totally okay. Spoiler alert: nobody else has their life together either; they’re just better at pretending.

3. Therapists Are Like Google Translate for Your Brain

Ever get a compliment and immediately respond with, “Oh, this old thing? I got it on sale! I’m actually hideous, but thank you!”? Yeah, that’s your low self-esteem talking, buddy. Therapy helps you translate those “you’re amazing” compliments into a language your self-esteem can understand without devolving into a panic attack.

Your therapist can help you rewrite the narrative. Instead of thinking, “I’m terrible at everything,” they’ll help you think, “Hey, maybe I just messed up one thing this week, and that’s pretty good odds!” Plus, it’s nice to have someone gently remind you that you’re not the dumpster fire you think you are.

4. Therapy Isn’t All Crying and Talking About Your Mother—It’s Also Full of ‘Aha!’ Moments

In therapy, you get to unpack why you feel the way you do, and it’s kind of like finally untangling that drawer of random cables you’ve been avoiding since 2012. You’ll start seeing patterns, connect the dots, and suddenly have “Aha!” moments that would make Oprah proud.

And let’s not forget, sometimes those revelations are hilarious. Like, maybe you realize your deep fear of public speaking isn’t rooted in anything traumatic but rather in that one time you burped in the middle of a spelling bee. It’s all connected! Therapy can help you see the absurdity of your thoughts and teach you to laugh at them, rather than let them run the show.

5. Because, Sometimes, You Just Need Someone to Say “You’re Not Crazy”

A huge part of therapy is simply feeling seen and heard by someone who’s not your mom or your dog (even though we love them). Your therapist is there to validate your experiences and remind you that, no, you’re not the only person who feels like a hot mess at times. In fact, they’ve got the receipts (confidential, of course) to prove that everyone is stumbling through life, just like you.

The Bottom Line: Therapy Is Self-Esteem’s Secret Weapon (and Honestly, It’s a Good Time)

Therapy helps you see that you’re not broken—you’re just human. You’ll learn to stop letting your inner critic run the show, start accepting compliments without having a meltdown, and finally, maybe, just maybe, believe that you’re actually pretty fantastic. Plus, you get to do all this while sitting in a comfy chair, sipping on tea, and occasionally spilling your guts to someone who really gets it.

So go ahead, book that therapy session, and start the journey toward self-love. You’ve got this. And if you don’t? That’s okay—your therapist is there to remind you that you’re still killing it, even on the days when you’re just “meh.”