What is self esteem?
Self esteem is how we feel about ourselves. These feelings can be greatly influenced by films and tv programmes that we watch and magazines we read. There always seems to be enormous pressure to be slim, fashionable, have money to spend, lots of friends and to have a boyfriend or girlfriend.
There is also sometimes pressure from our families and school to be successful or to be high achievers at school, whether that is doing well at our exams or being good on the sports field. If we are not seen as 'high achievers' or held in high regard by other people we look up to, our self esteem or the way we feel about ourselves can be affected.
Our levels of self esteem often go up and down and are often affected by events and encounters with other people. We are constantly judging ourselves, often comparing ourselves with other people. This however can all too often slip into feelings of competition and can lead to telling ourselves that we are 'not good enough'. This not only affects our self esteem but also our levels of self confidence.
How can we boost our self esteem?
The reality is that we are all different. Although we may want to change aspects of our behaviour or develop our skills etc, a sense of self is also based on self-awareness and self-acceptance. We may be fully aware of our strengths or we may not have yet discovered them.
Sometimes it may mean trying new experiences, stepping into the unknown and taking a risk. Some things may work well while others don't work out as you would have hoped. Be realistic in your goals and seeing each success s a step in the right direction.
Remember that small changes add up
