Psychologist Marisa Franco suggests that one way to boost self-esteem is by revisiting and updating troubling memories. By imagining your current self offering reassurance to your younger self, you can experience a sense of catharsis and improve your self-worth. Franco, author of “Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment,” explains that self-worth is a skill that can be developed. Her book, based on recent psychology and neuroscience research, provides exercises to help build a stronger sense of personal value. One method involves memory reconsolidation, where revisiting past memories and offering comfort can transform how you perceive yourself, leading to higher self-esteem and reduced trauma symptoms. This process can even alter the hippocampus, the brain’s memory storage area. Franco’s insights highlight the importance of treating your emotions as significant and learning to feel good about yourself.
QUESTION: How might revisiting and transforming past memories impact your future self-perception and relationships?
Why reshaping memories may hold the key to raising self-esteem
