The first country to fly the Airbus A380 is Singapore.

The first-ever Formula One night race was held in Singapore.

The inaugural Youth Olympic Games will be hosted by Singapore.

What do all the above achievements have in common? Yeah, Singapore.

Singapore is just a tiny island state at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, hardly visible on the world map. Yet, she has achieved feats that even much bigger countries could only envy. Singapore has come a long way from being a ghostly kampung to becoming the vibrant city she is now.

Singapore has proven that size has nothing to do with what one can achieve. Thus, those who feel ‘small’ and useless in front of others; those who think they are never good enough; those who doubt their self-worth, should take a leaf out of Singapore’s book.

Imagine what Singapore would be like today if she had the same low self-esteem and self-doubt mentality. Would she dare to venture out and take the risks she had undertaken? I doubt so. She would probably have remained a dull fishing village with her people leading uninteresting and unfulfilling lives. That’s exactly the kind of life those who see themselves as a lesser person than others would end up living.

People who don’t think highly of themselves tend to compare themselves unfavourably to those around them. They allow ugly negative thoughts to take hold of their minds. They act selfishly, constantly thinking that every action that others made is directed at them in some negative way. Some even think that they are the butt end of a joke when they see people laughing and happen to be looking their way. They see negative in every word that is being said about them. They feel that they cannot ever do anything right. They become habitual riders on the roller coaster of self-pity. They do not allow themselves to have fun. Instead, they allow their selfish habit of low self-confidence to stand in their way.

Self-doubt is nothing new. It's something that we've all faced. It's hard, sometimes, to believe in our ability to be or do everything we dream of. Even the most determined persons have their dark moments. But it's those who get through those moments; those who pull strength from them to fuel their goals; those who learn to have faith in themselves, who will enjoy the greatest success in life.

But above all, the key to overcoming self-doubt and boosting self-esteem lies in us. The more practice we get at believing in our abilities, the easier it will be to keep growing that belief. The same rule also applies to letting go of our limits and fears - practise makes it much easier. Allow your self-respect to guide you and give you strength. The higher you build your self-confidence, the stronger you become. Then you will be able to defeat all of the negative emotions that are fighting to control your thinking. Do this for YOU. All these changes can and should only be done with your best interest as your goal. No one else really cares in the end. How you live your life and find happiness is totally up to you, so kick low self-esteem in the BUTT and live the fulfilling life that you are supposed to.

If Singapore can do it, so can you. Be Singapore.