Self-esteem describes a person’s overall 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.
Key elements of self-esteem include:
- Self-confidence
- Feelings of security
- Identity
- Sense of belonging
- Feeling of competence
Other terms often used interchangeably with self-esteem include self-worth, self-regard, and self-respect and self-confidence.
Self-esteem tends to be lowest in childhood and increases during adolescence, as well as adulthood, eventually reaching a stable and enduring level. This makes self-esteem similar to the stability of personality traits over time.
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.
Four key characteristics of healthy self-esteem are:
- A firm understanding of one’s skills
- The ability to maintain healthy relationships with others because of having a healthy relationship with oneself
- Realistic and appropriate personal expectations
- An understanding of one’s needs and the ability to express those needs
People with low self-esteem tend to feel less sure of their abilities (including EMA) and may doubt their decision-
making process. They may not feel motivated to try novel things (like a flip-side breakfall) because they don’t believe they can do it like others can. Those with low self-esteem may have issues with relationships and expressing their needs. They may also experience low levels of confidence and feel unlovable and unworthy.
– Written by Kumar Bandyo