Written by Brianna Griggs
Self-Esteem is a culmination of character traits, feelings, and emotions that indicate how people feel about themselves and how they feel about their abilities and limitations. Self-esteem can range from unhealthy to healthy or low to high, and can vary every day. Self-worth, self-love, and self-respect are some other aspects of self-esteem that can shape how someone feels internally.
Establishing healthy self-esteem is not something that happens overnight, for many people, it takes years of practice to master.
The way people view themselves and feel about themselves can influence their behavior. Many decisions about relationships, health, and intimacy are oftentimes linked to an individual’s level of self-esteem. A pattern of unhealthy decisions, especially sexual decisions, isn’t always determined by self-esteem but can be an indicator of an underlying or ongoing self-esteem concern.
A few signs of unhealthy self-esteem include:
Feelings of uncertainty
Feelings of doubt
Giving in to pressure
Feelings of Insecurity
Feelings of shame
Withdrawal and isolation from social groups and settings
Feelings of aggression and anger
Intense feelings of fear
*This list is not comprehensive and should be used only as a guide
A few signs of healthy self-esteem include:
Having confidence
Being optimistic
Making yourself a top priority
Feelings of authenticity
Being able to give and receive love that feels good
Being assertive when needed
Ability to handle criticism without offense
Being able to express your needs and wants clearly
*This list is not comprehensive and should be used only as a guide
It is important to note that self-esteem will likely change throughout a person’s life. Nobody will have 100% healthy self-esteem all of the time, therefore, it is important to understand the causes of unhealthy and healthy forms of self-esteem. If you or someone you know is experiencing self-esteem setbacks, it is the perfect opportunity to spend a little more time loving yourself and practicing more self-care.
Challenge: Choose an activity this week that makes you feel good about yourself. Something as simple as adopting a new skin care routine or picking up that old comic book that makes you laugh can and will make a difference!
Source: Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/self-esteem)