Self-esteem

"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."

  --  Henry Ford

Self-esteem is a reflection of a person’s overall emotional evaluation of his or her own worth. Who we believe we are based on our own and others perceptions of us whether in a positive or negative form has an overall affect on our self-esteem.  It is our foundation or core, but if it has not been nurtured and positively reinforced from childhood it can weaken during life’s challenges.

If you believe that you can do something or will give it a good try, and learn from the experience, regardless of the outcome, then you probably have high self-esteem.  However, if you believe that you will fail at something before you even start because of past experiences or a lack of confidence then it could be a form of self-fulfilling prophecy.  Regardless, if you are prepared to not give into your negative thoughts and dig deep inside to find your inner courage and confidence you could turn the situation around.

Your self-esteem can be derived from a healthy mind, body and soul, so just like a healthy lifestyle you need to look after it, work hard to get the desired results and reward successes and milestones.  It can fluctuate from time to time but try to overcome negativity and do things that build it up if it has been knocked.  Confidence is closely linked to self esteem and if you build each of them up they will make a complimentary team and contribute to your overall happiness.

Low self esteem can have a negative affect on your body image and how you see yourself.

Think of your self-esteem and confidence as a set of weighing scales.  Try to keep them balanced and if you feel either of them getting low because of an experience that didn’t go too well or it triggered something negative from your past, try to do something new you like and enjoy, spend time with positive friends and family in order to build it up, so that it regains it’s balance.  The good thing about self-esteem and confidence is that now matter how low they get, they can be built up.  Even though your negative “inner critic” might rear its head from time to time, you will be in a stronger position to be able to challenge and overcome it and get pleasure from proving it wrong.  The more you do to strengthen your self-esteem the weaker your “inner critic” will become.