My self-esteem is growing because I am actively nurturing it.

Self-esteem responds badly to compliments and well to evidence. A person can be told they are capable for a decade and not believe it; keep three small promises to yourself in a fortnight and something shifts.

Which is the awkward part, because the promises have to be small enough to actually keep. Walking on Tuesday. Answering the message you have been avoiding. The bar goes where you will clear it, not where it would look impressive to somebody watching.

Each kept promise is a piece of evidence, and the mind is a slow but fairly honest juror. It changes its opinion on the strength of behaviour, not encouragement.