What is self-esteem? It is one of the most important concepts in regards to personal development and improving your self-image. The concept of self-esteem can be difficult to define because it is relative, dependent upon your current circumstances. For some, high self-esteem may mean they feel they are better than others, have a superior status, or are happier. However, for others, low self-esteem may mean that they believe they are worthless, have little control, or are not successful.
As individual experiences growing up, self-esteem often builds on experiences. These experiences shape who we are today and how we see ourselves as individuals. Self-worth is a value we develop through our own unique experiences. Self-worth often encompasses a person’s personal judgments of themselves as well as their emotional state, including happiness, failure, success, embarrassment, pride, and despair. These experiences and thoughts form the foundation of our self-confidence and self-respect.
According to research, self-esteem plays an important role in determining how we perceive ourselves, which in turn can have a profound effect on how we behave in various situations. A person with a positive self-image will approach every day in a more positive manner, believing they have control over the events of the day. They will enjoy the experience of life and will view obstacles as opportunities rather than a threat. Someone with a negative self-image tends to treat any difficulties in life with contempt and to believe they have no control. They will act in ways that demonstrate that they are unable to handle anything that comes their way. A negative outlook in life can lead to negative behavior.
Self-esteem also has an impact on a person’s overall sense of self worth and confidence. The value we place on our own self-worth is reflected in our appearance and in the way we treat ourselves. When we evaluate our self-worth, it is likely that our level of self-confidence will be positively impacted as well. Those who place high importance on their self-worth tend to feel they have control over their lives and their future, and they do not need to continually seek assistance for issues in life that they feel they cannot manage alone. In addition, those with high self-worth are more likely to take risks and to try new things that others might normally perceive to be very risky or embarrassing.
Our own internal critics can lead to negative behavior. These voices in our head and in our imagination act like we are in a constant state of trial and error. We may compare our behavior to that of another and use our internal critic as a means to justify our behavior or to justify our choices. When our inner critic leads us to believe that we are not being successful or accomplishing things that we want to achieve, we may find ourselves doubting our own abilities and questioning whether we are on the right track. A change in behavior or a lack of consistent effort in one area may lead to a lower self-image or self-esteem.
There are many factors that can contribute to the formation of our self-image and self-esteem. In addition, there are many situations and circumstances in which experiences may impact our level of self-image. For example, if we had a major life event such as the death of a loved one or a divorce, these events can greatly alter the way we think about ourselves. In addition, we can also be affected by the way we feel about ourselves from various events in our childhood. We may have been criticized as excessively as a child, or we may have experienced neglect and may have been the target of negative peers or other circumstances.
Even the way that we think and perceive ourselves can be affected by many factors. These factors can be either positive or negative, and can certainly affect how we see ourselves. However, there is one thing that cannot be influenced by these factors, and that is our own thoughts and perceptions about our self-image. This is essentially what is referred to as self-perception. It is not possible for anyone to change the way that they perceive themselves.
So how can changes in our behavior or experiences affect self-perception? If we make changes that help us improve our self-image, but do not alter the way that we perceive ourselves, then this may lead to healthy self-esteem. However, if we attempt to alter our perceptions and try to apply changes without changing our self-perception of ourselves, then this may lead to unhealthy self-esteem. That is why it is important that we develop the ability to manage our self-talk. By working with our inner voice, we can begin to realize our true potential and build on strong, healthy self-esteem.