Self esteem is defined as the confidence in your own self worth and how you see your personal value .
In University of Maryland, department of sociology. Self esteem is defined as Self-esteem is a positive or negative orientation toward oneself; an overall evaluation of one’s worth or value.
self-esteem has been shown to be a core Study in psychology, as it is associated with a variety of positive outcomes, such as academic achievement, relationship satisfaction, happiness,and lower rates of criminal behavior.
The benefits of high self-esteem are thought to include improved mental and physical health, and decrease in decent behavior while drawbacks of low self-esteem have been found to be anxiety, loneliness, and increased vulnerability to substance abuse.
People are motivated to have high self-esteem, and having it indicates positive self-regard, not egotism.
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Why is self esteem so important ?
Self-esteem is very crucial in life as it is one of the determinants of success or failure. Self esteem is greatly important because it influences a person’s life choices.
This behavior plays a significant role in one’s motivation in life. Having a high self-esteem can help you navigate through life with a positive attitude and outlook.
Also , Having a low self esteem might hold you back from achieving to your goals and hinder you from maximizing your potential as you will navigate through life always having the perception that you are not good enough or you don’t have what it takes to succeed both at school or work. Self esteem is also very important for mental health.
Types of self esteem
There are three types of self esteem; Unbalanced self esteem, low self esteem, High esteem
Unbalanced Self esteem
People with Unbalanced self-esteem tend to think of themselves as better than other people and are always ready to underestimate others.
This is actually a very negative type of self-esteem because it prevents people who have it from forming meaningful and healthy relationships.
They always want to be ahead and most times do not mind hurting people to achieve the success they desire, thinking that will bring them happiness
Low self esteem
People who have low self-esteem, think of themselves as below average. They do not believe in themselves, they do not trust in their abilities, and they do not place value on themselves.
Low self-esteem can affect a lot of things in one’s life. Some of the effects of low self-esteem are poor relationship, addiction, depression And anxiety.
High self esteem
People that possess the behaviour of high self-esteem tend to love and accept themselves. They believe in themselves and their abilities.
They have the confidence that whatever challenges might come, they will be able to surpass it.
Some of the benefits of high self-esteem includes
- Being able to be yourself without the fear of being judged
- Readiness to accept new challenges
- Not always searching for approval from other people.
- Readiness to learn new things as you accept that you do not know everything and also take corrective criticism.
- People who have high self-esteem have enhanced initiatives and pleasant feelings and they are more pleasant to be around.
Factors of self esteem
There are many factors that can influence self-esteem. Your self-esteem may be impacted by:
Age
Self esteem often begins in childhood then into adolescence due to pubertal changes and social comparison, and rises through adulthood as individuals gain more experience and independence, and a stable sense of identity.
Disability
Living with a physical disability can have great impact on self-esteem.
Conversely, strong communal support, adaptive environments, and the development of unique strengths can robust self-esteem and a fierce sense of pride and identity.
Genetics
While environmental factors are powerful, genetic traits lay the base for our self-esteem.
self-esteem can be linked to heritable traits, such as foundational temperament and personality dimensions .
Illness
Both acute and chronic illnesses can destroy the relationship we have with our bodies and minds, often challenging our self-esteem.
Chronic conditions, in particular, can alter physical appearance, enhance tiredness and force individuals to give up hobbies or careers that previously defined their worth.
Thought patterns
on an internal level, cognitive habits act as the immediate lens through which we judge our worth. Repetitive thought patterns which can be a inner critic thinking or cognitive distortions .
Also, practicing self-compassion and maintaining an internal locus of control believing you have agency over your life and strengthens self-esteem by reducing challenges as opportunities for growth rather than proof of inadequacy.
