What is self-esteem?
Self-esteem is a personal judgment and an attitude towards oneself that reflects the concept we have of our worth and our qualities. It shapes and motivates our personality and is generated through the history of each person.
High self-esteem means that you have a positive view of yourself and feel good about yourself. Low self-esteem means that you have a negative view of yourself and don’t feel good about yourself.
Many theories suggest that self-esteem is a basic human need. Abraham Maslow described two forms of love: the need for the respect of others, and the need for self-esteem.
Self-esteem is something that can vary over time and is influenced by a variety of factors, including your experiences, your relationships, and your environment. It is important to work on developing and maintaining a healthy self-esteem, as it can have a significant impact on your overall well-being and happiness.
How important is it?
Self-esteem is important because it can affect how you feel about yourself, how you relate to others, and how you make decisions. People with high self-esteem tend to be more confident, feel more capable and competent, and are more likely to take risks and try new things. On the other hand, people with low self-esteem may feel less secure, may avoid trying new things or taking risks, and may feel unworthy or incapable.
The degree of self-esteem that we have is manifested in thoughts, attitudes and behaviors. High self-esteem fosters a positive attitude, satisfaction, the desire to fight and is a great buffer against adversity, serving as motivation and positively affecting our behavior.
However, low self-esteem often increases stress and demotivation, makes us feel incapable of achieving our goals and can lead us to believe that we cannot be valued by other people.
How can you foster your self-esteem?
- Love yourself more and better
- Accept yourself, as you are
- Develop a sense of humour
- Be constructive
- Have no fear of responsibilities or decision making
- Don’t think it’s all your fault
- Reward yourself for your achievements
- Simplify life
