What is self-esteem? It can be compared to a score card in business. You would fill out a form with your answers to questions about your skills and knowledge. The results would determine how high you are on the corporate scale. The higher your rating, the more likely you’ll be hired for a promotion or get a raise.
Self-worth is about believing in yourself. A person with low self-esteem does not believe in themselves. To them, their value is based on others’ judgments. They have a hard time valuing their personal qualities. In their mind, there is always a gray area where their true value lies.
Your inner critic can hamper your progress in improving self-esteem. Every time you criticize yourself, it becomes another drop off on your chart of personal performance. It may lead to feelings of guilt and depression. This will reflect in your self-image. It may also cause you to focus too much on your flaws.
A good way to build your self-esteem and boost your self-image is to do something that makes you proud. Doing something that you are passionate about will strengthen your self-respect and increase your self-image. For example, if you love sports, sign up for a sport-related charity. If you are passionate about the outdoors, take up hiking or camping. Doing something you love will boost your overall sense of self worth.
The second secret of building your self-esteem is to enhance your self-efficacy. Have you ever heard the expression “me-too”? When you hear the word “me-too,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most people would think of a businessperson who has taken on too many clients or the artistic professional who has exhibited their work at too large an exhibition. Individuals who have taken on extra responsibilities in their lives are viewed as overachievers who deserve to be promoted, especially if they have taken on more responsibility than most employees.
In addition to enhancing your self-confidence, having high self-efficacy can help us excel at areas of our expertise. As an example, working with very busy colleagues can make it difficult for us to effectively communicate. However, when we recognize that each one of us handles things differently, we can use our various skills effectively. We can learn to communicate effectively with different types of people. This can also help us build relationships with co-workers.
Self-awareness and a healthy self-image can go a long way in assisting us in maintaining a positive self-image. When we know how we look on the inside, it may help us make the necessary changes to enhance our confidence level. For example, it may be helpful to start taking better care of our appearance. Making a strong effort to improve our physical appearance will go far in helping others see us as we truly are.
The important thing is not to focus too much on how we feel about ourselves but rather how we look at ourselves. People with high self-worth are more likely to do good deeds and spread the word about the good things in their lives. They are more likely to be optimistic and have a healthy self-image. A positive, realistic self-image helps build our overall sense of self-worth.
Self-esteem also plays an important role in our confidence level. A healthy self-image is a key factor in boosting our confidence levels. One study showed that when a child was left to his own devices, he performed worse at a competitive task than when his tutor controlled every step. Those who allowed themselves to feel worthy performed better than those who did not. Self-esteem, therefore, plays a significant role in our self-confidence. It’s also important to remember that self-esteem and confidence do not necessarily go hand-in-hand.
It’s important to keep in mind that some people will look down on our self-esteem or lack of self-confidence and not see the Blind Area. The Blind Area refers to an inner voice or inner map of our self-concept that sometimes acts as our inner critic and tells us what we are doing or not doing right. The Blind Area is mysterious to most of us, but it does exist, even for the confident person.
For example, having a positive, outward-facing self-image is crucial for high self-esteem and confidence. It takes away the need to compare ourselves to others and may help us to be more adaptable to changes in our environment. As Rachael Ray so succinctly states, “People who have low self-esteem and a negative, distorted view of themselves often find themselves stuck in a rut, unable to go anywhere.” However, by improving one’s self-image, one can improve one’s ability to make changes in one’s personal and professional life as well as their relationships with others.