What is self-esteem? Where does your self-esteem come from?

Question

What brings you self-esteem, and what takes it away? What specific situations, what specific thoughts?

Self-esteem seems to be one of our core emotions. Self-esteem comes from doing something we deem to have positive value.

For example:

Jill experiences a sense of pride with her artwork.

Steve is filled with joy after cracking a witty remark at a party.

I'd argue that our self-esteem comes from our reasoning or common sense, and how these perceived facts about ourselves and others come to shape our self-esteem. While some of these seem to be entirely internal, as with Jill, some appear to be reflected from others intentions and perceptions.

The complex factors making up self-esteem include biological make-up, sociological influences, personal experience and history, and the concepts you have formed. Giving rise and shaping our perceptions and experience of self-esteem.

All thoughts welcome. Cheers.

Answer 1

Looking back over good work you've done, and also receiving praise.



A specific situation for me was moving to a new country and making friends fast, I could look around at my social group and think - these aren't just childhood or school friends I am tied to by circumstance, these people like me and have made an effort to get to know me - that made me feel good, and even better about meeting more new people.



My self-esteem is taken away when I fail at things - rarely when people criticise me, funnily enough, because I either don't care what they think or I respect and incorporate their opinions. When I make mistakes or my plans don't work or come to fruition, that dents my self-esteem.

Answer 2

Doing good successful things with yourself also builds self esteem. Allowing yourself to try and fail, then try again. Loss of loved ones gives you the strength and the power to pick yourself up and do it with success. Knowing how strong you really are, living life anyway.

One EX: When you are overweight and lose the weight, keeping it off, changing your way of thinking and lifestyle brings on the ultimate self esteem.

Answer 3

Self esteem varies according to age or life events. After a traumatic life-affecting loss such as a spouse, self esteem can be detrimentally affected for a time.

Answer 4

Well I went through an eating disorder and learned that I really can do anything if I set my mind to it. If I prepare myself I can take my thoughts and actions and trust myself to do whatever I want. I can also ignore negative words because I can learn not to be that way....Just stuff that keeps me motivated and not putting myself down is how I explain self estem

Answer 5

self-esteem is something what you stand for & how good you feel about yourself. If your self-esteem make you feel good about your body you feel good. If you feel you need to workout to get a good & finish to have to that body you dream of, then self-esteem is feeling good. If people talk about your body & make you feel bad then your self-esteem was taking away about yourself of how your body look. self-esteem is many things you like about youself & don't like.

Answer 6

If you're working hard for your purpose/ work & don't have anything to be ashamed of, then this feeling comes from within & generates confidence in you..