Self-esteem refers to your overall sense of worth, how much you like and respect yourself! Healthy self-esteem can help you feel empowered to reach your goals, express your needs, and have a more positive outlook on life.

Remember: You can’t read people’s minds. It’s easy to assume how someone feels about you based on a text they never replied to, a weird look they gave you in the hall, or just the fact that you’ve never really interacted. None of these things mean they don’t like your, so try to stop your brain when it starts creating a story about what they must be thinking.

Notice your negative thoughts and challenge them. When you catch yourself thinking in extremes (nobody likes me, I’ll never have any friends), try to challenge them or find the middle ground. Does nobody like you, or do you feel unwanted by a few people at school? Will you never have friends, or are you just surrounded by the same classmates you’ve been with for years or people who aren’t like you? Most of us are our own worst critics.

Use positive self-talk. Everyone has strengths and (many!) good qualities. What do you like or appreciate about yourself? Write these things down so that you have a running list to add more to as you think of them! If coming up with specific things feels too hard right now, try repeating basic affirmations, like I am strong or I matter. You can also ask a friend or loved one what they think are your best qualities to get you started.

Practice self-compassion. There’s a lot of talk about the importance of self-love, but that doesn’t always feel doable. Sometimes even just liking yourself feels too hard. Start by trying to not hate or dislike yourself. Can you think of reasons why you deserve some kindness and patience? There’s a lot going on in the world right now, the best you can do is good enough.