Meaning Of Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is used to describe a person's overall subjective sense of personal worth or value. In other words, self-esteem may be defined as how much you appreciate and like yourself regardless of the circumstances.
Why Self-Esteem Is Important
Self-esteem impacts your decision-making process, your relationships, your emotional health, and your overall well-being. It also influences motivation, as people with a healthy, positive view of themselves understand their potential and may feel inspired to take on new challenges.
Various factors believed to influence our Self-Esteem include:
(1)Genetics.
(2)Personality.
(3)Life experiences.
(4)Age.
(5)Health.
(6)Thoughts.
(7)Social circumstances.
(8)The reactions of others.
Low Self-Esteem Characteristics
(1)Difficulty speaking up and prioritizing your own needs,wants and feelings.
(2)They constantly feel inferior to peers and mates.
(3)Not feeling deserving of,or capable of,having "more".
(4)Difficulty making their own choices.
(5)Always worry about what other people think of them.
(6)Unable to deal with challenges.
(7)Never believe or accept compliments from people.
(8)Always jealous and envious of other people’s success.
(9)Always feel resentful and down when they lose.
(10)Avoids competition for fear of failing.
Characteristics of high Self-Esteem
(1)They participate in and enjoy so many hobbies and activities.
(2)They believe they are valuable, and that others enjoy spending time with them.
(3)They consider themselves worthy and equal to others, irrespective of differences in personal or financial success.
(4)They are always ready and able to assert themselves in the face of opposition.
(5)They resist being manipulated by others.
(6)They are sensitive to the feelings and needs of others.
(7)They regularly accept and abide by social norms.
(8)They believe in their capacity to solve problems, adjust to failures, and ask for assistance.
(9)They are always able to make choices, trust their own judgments, and never feel guilty about their choices if others do not agree.
(10)They fully live and enjoy the present, and never live in the past or future, or worry about 'what ifs'.
How to overcome low Self-Esteem
(1)Quit worrying-If you can stop wondering what the future holds, and just enjoy the present, you can overcome low self-esteem.
(2)Speak to yourself positively-In difficult times, you may have to be your number one motivator. Speak to and encourage yourself the way you would a best friend. When you fail or make mistakes, say positive things, and try not to be too hard on yourself.
(3)Put the past aside-What has happened in the past should remain right there – in the past. Concentrate on and enjoy living in the here-and-now, rather than reliving old disappointments, mistakes, and failures.
(4)Try to have fun-All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, or Jane, a dull girl. Schedule fun activities and events into every week to avoid always being gloomy and low on esteem.
(5)Avoid comparison-The more frequently you compare yourself to others, the more you develop low self-esteem.
(6)Dwell on the positives-Always look towards the positives, no matter the circumstance.
(7)Always exercise-Exercising regularly has been found to boost the body and soul, combat depression, and help people feel good.
(8)Always assert yourself-It would help a lot if you always communicate your feelings, beliefs, wants, and your opinions to others in an assertive, direct, and honest manner. This way, you are rarely misunderstood or treated incorrectly.
(9)Believe in the process-Rome wasn’t built in a day. So you must understand that you have to practice all of the above regularly and consistently to improve your self-esteem.
Overcoming low self-esteem is no easy feat, but it can be achieved. The moment you take charge of how you react to the things that happen in your life, you would be able to overcome low self-esteem.
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