6 Ways to Help a Partner Struggling with Low Self Esteem

How to support a partner with low self-esteem

When you have low self-esteem, learning to love yourself is incredibly challenging. No matter what you do, it just doesn’t seem good enough. Even if you are in a loving and committed long-term relationship, research shows that low self-esteem can cause you to regret the sacrifices you’ve made in a relationship. It can also cause you to feel unsupported and unappreciated.

If your partner is struggling with low self-esteem, here are six ways to help them:

1. Be actively together

Carve out some time in your day to intentionally interact with your partner. Actively engaging with one another takes effort, attention, and desire. You can chat, enjoy dinner together, go for a walk, and play a game that you enjoy. Being more intentional with how you spend time together signals to your partner that you’re into them, which helps boost self-esteem.

2. Get intimate

Touch is super important. Being intimate helps with feeling connected to your partner. Intimacy comes in all different shapes and styles, from holding hands to a spontaneous kiss to sexting. It is also emotional, so be sure to spend some time sharing each other’s feelings.

3. Designate “me time”

Each person in the relationship should get alone time to themselves, which can help foster self-esteem. Having space away from your partner sometimes can help you recharge. Consider going to the gym, reading, and meditating.

4. Show gratitude

Showing your partner with low self-esteem that you care about them and appreciate them is essential. Don’t assume that they know you appreciate them — be sure to say “thank you” regularly.

5. Use “I” statements

“I” statements are an essential part of compassionate communication that can help build self-esteem. These statements make you focus on your feelings instead of placing blame on your partner.

6. Enjoy each other’s hobbies

It’s important to compromise in relationships — they shouldn’t be one-sided. That means you should explore each other’s hobbies. Not only will doing so enable you to connect with your partner on a deeper level, but it will also increase their self-esteem.

It’s all about self-love

While improving your partner’s self-esteem is up to them, as a loving and supportive partner, there are tons of things you can do to support that process. You can be a continual source of love, acceptance, and positivity as they learn to love themselves.

References

1. “How to Help a Partner with Low Self-Esteem in 6 Creative Ways,” Bustle, October 7, 2015.
2. “The Best Way to Help a Partner Struggling with Low Self-Esteem,” Bustle, June 13, 2017.