Why Is Low Self-Esteem So Difficult To Fix?
It’s a one-ish reason
Everyone who has “dealt" with low self-esteem esteem will acknowledge that they are still dealing with it in some way.
Although the degree to which it tolls on you keeps reducing when you take conscious effort against it, there are still some “residues" low self-esteem leaves.
I think the reason why low self-esteem is difficult to fix is because it is a deep-rooted belief you have about yourself.
Low self-esteem is a deep-rooted belief that you are not loveable or capable which was developed as a result of several experiences you have had (especially in childhood) that you perceive to prove that fact (you’re not loveable or capable).
So to change the situation, you will need to “uproot” that belief and replace it with a new one (high self-esteem). That’s where the big challenge is.
Nobody changes their mindset overnight, especially regarding personal issues like this.
But to change your belief, you will need to get counter-proofs that exceed all the proofs you have gotten from the past that you are not loveable or capable.
This will require years of affirmations, thought-criticism, and habit-breaking.
The habit-breaking part is also another reason it seems low self-esteem cannot be overcome. Even after disputing your thoughts (convincing yourself you are loveable and capable) and the affirmations, there are many “low self-esteem habits" you have developed that would need to be destroyed.
For example, everyone with low self-esteem usually sidelines themself from what others feel entitled to or worthy of. That’s a habit built already.
After overcoming low self-esteem, you still need to consciously break that habit of sidelining yourself.
Negative self-talk, expecting disapproval, people-pleasing, always trying to fix something about yourself, blaming yourself for everything, excessive fear of failure, are only some of those habits. And they all require a lot of work to break.
However, once you can uproot the root belief, half of the work is done. Now you can see why it’s so hard to overcome low self-esteem. But you have also identified what you need to focus on while fixing low self-esteem.
