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Self-Esteem

✨ Loving and Respecting Yourself

Self-esteem is the overall value and respect a person gives to themselves. It reflects how people see their own worth rather than how skilled they are at a particular task. Unlike self-confidence, which relates to believing you can succeed in specific situations, self-esteem concerns the way you judge yourself as a person.

It develops gradually through childhood and adulthood under the influence of family relationships, social experiences, culture, personal achievements and the way individuals interpret successes and setbacks. Self-esteem is neither completely fixed nor constantly high or low. It can change over time and may vary during different stages of life, especially after important events or major life transitions.

Healthy self-esteem is based on accepting both strengths and weaknesses without defining personal worth by success, appearance or the approval of others. It does not mean believing you are better than everyone else or never experiencing self-doubt. Learning from mistakes, setting realistic expectations, treating yourself with kindness and maintaining supportive relationships all contribute to stronger self-esteem.

Constructive feedback can encourage growth, while persistent criticism, bullying or repeated negative experiences may weaken it. Low self-esteem is not a mental illness, but it is associated with a higher risk of anxiety, depression and emotional distress. Because self-esteem can be developed, many people improve it over time through experience, healthy habits and, when needed, professional support.

💡 Did you know?

The internal mirror. Imagine you have a mirror inside you. If self-esteem is low, the mirror is all dirty, and you only see your flaws. If you wipe it by remembering your successes and what you love about yourself, you will see a great person! It is this mirror that you must learn to care for.

The compliment bucket. Psychologists use the image of an invisible bucket that everyone carries on their head. When someone speaks kindly to us or gives us a compliment, the bucket fills, and we feel good. When we criticize ourselves, the bucket empties. We can also help others fill their bucket!

The importance of errors. Did you know that people with better self-esteem are often those who make the most mistakes? It's because they dare to try difficult things. They know an error doesn't change their value; it's just a step to learn.