Surprising Things That Can Boost Your Self-Esteem
Scientists found that more of us would rather get an ego boost than have sex. These confidence-builders get you your fix when you need it—so you can boldly move on.
By Jena Pincott
Virtual Voyeurs
We all know that journal writing is therapeutic. But a study at Israel's University of Haifa surprised us: Blogging our innermost feelings turns out to be more confidence-building than the old leather-bound lock-and-key approach. After two months, students who posted intimate and sometimes agonized entries online at least twice weekly showed greater improvement in self-esteem—especially if their (totally anonymous) blogs were open to comments (which were usually supportive). The explanation: A blog's "safe self-exposure" aspect helps us to feel connected and less socially anxious.
Published 09/04/2013