Self Esteem Definition

The self esteem definition can be a little gray but basically self esteem is a person’s view on how they perceive themselves to be. Though the words self-worth and self-esteem are often used interchangeably, they are quite different. Self-esteem is fluctuating. For example, you feel great when you get a promotion and terrible when you don’t. Self-worth is something you were born with. It’s your sense of personal value, regardless of accomplishments or failures.

Self-Worth Versus Self Esteem Definition

How do you feel about yourself? Resist the temptation to count your accomplishments or failures. Just think about yourself as an individual person and answer the question honestly. Learn the difference between self-worth and self-esteem and how to boost both.

Having a strong sense of self-worth can increase your self-esteem. Those with a positive self-image often view life’s difficulties in a more favorable light and tend to overcome them more easily than those with a negative self-worth.

Those who feel confident within themselves often have good self-esteem. For example, even if you were passed over for that promotion or didn’t get the grade you’d hoped for on the test, you know that you’re still a worthwhile person.

Ironically, a person perceives their self-esteem at first usually from others in their lives. When a child is young, and is shown affection and kindness, it’s very easy for the child to feel self worth. In their minds, if other people give them the message that they are worthy of love, they must be worthy of love. Conversely, if a child has been brought up in an environment that is cold, unaffectionate, or abusive, they will develop a message that they are unworthy of love. They will feel that the reaction that they receive from others is their fault, and that they must have done something wrong have caused this reaction. They will feel that they are “bad”, especially if the adults in their lives constantly tell them so.

Self-esteem comes from self worth. If a person is made to feel worthy, then they will develop a great sense of worth. If not, they will feel that they are unworthy of anything good.

The heartbreaking issue is that a person’s perception of themselves is what determines their fate in life most of the time. For the person who has a healthy self-esteem, they will make positive decisions. They will be ambitious in life. They will have far greater chances of living up to their potential, because they feel like they deserve for good things to happen to them. More than this, they will feel that they can accomplish whatever they put their minds to. They feel like they can compete in life. They will stay away from negative decisions and people, because they are confident that they deserve experiences that are uplifting.

Self-worth and self-esteem are very closely related. In order to build self-esteem, you must reconnect with the self-worth you were born with. No matter how difficult or stressful life gets, it is important to remember that you a worthwhile person with your own unique place in this world. Remember, self-worth comes from within. Though you may lose sight of it, you can never truly lose it.