Low self-esteem
What is self-esteem?
Self-esteem put simply, is how we feel about ourselves overall. It takes into account the self-love and positive regard you have for yourself. Hence, if you have healthy self-esteem, you would likely feel positively about yourself and about life itself too. Self-esteem develops over your lifetime, culminating from your various experiences and circumstances that eventually shape how you see yourself. Self-esteem comes from the opinions, value and beliefs you hold about yourself, which can be challenging to change.
What’s the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence?
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Self-esteem, as described, is how we feel about ourselves, whereas self-confidence refers to how you feel about your abilities, which will vary between scenarios. Although they are different, they are related. To illustrate, if someone’s self-esteem improves, they are more likely to have increased self-confidence. On the other hand, it is also possible to have low self-esteem, but feel very confident about certain abilities you hold.
What is low self-esteem?
Low self-esteem is when, overall, you feel negatively about yourself and life in general.
What causes low self-esteem?
Everyone’s self-esteem is different, and factors that affect self-esteem will also differ too. The following are common factors that can precede low self-esteem:
Being bullied Being abused Having mental health problems Bereavement Stress Work problems Body image issues Money problems Physical health issues Experiencing prejudice or discrimination Relationship problems (e.g. separation and divorce)Low self-esteem can often begin during childhood where a child receives positive or negative messages from people such as their parents, siblings, teachers, friends, and other sources, such as social media . During childhood, it is often the negative messages that stick, which can be challenging to forget or let go of.
How can low self-esteem affect us?
Having low self-esteem will often make life challenges feel much more difficult to handle, whereas if your self-esteem is healthier, tackling the ups and downs of life can be more manageable. If you have low self-esteem, you might be more likely to avoid difficult situations or tasks. Having low self-esteem can also be harmful to our mental health, with problems such as depression and anxiety being related.
How can self-esteem issues be improved?
Self-esteem can be improved, and a good starting point can be to identify the negative beliefs you hold about yourself (e.g. thinking that you are not smart enough to apply for a new job). Equally, you should also identify things that you feel positively about yourself (e.g. that you are honest and reliable).
Other things that can help to improve self-esteem, and you personal development, include:
Build positive relationships and a support network Be kind to yourself Recognise your strengths Be more assertive Look after yourself physically Challenge yourself (e.g. don’t let your self-esteem stop you from something you want to achieve)