Self-esteem is the overall opinion that you have of yourself and your abilities. If you have a healthy self-esteem, you feel good about yourself and feel worthy of respect from others. If you have a low self-esteem, you place little value on your opinions and ideas; you may also worry that you aren’t deserving of respect from others. Self-esteem is a crucial piece of who we are because it is a combination of several factors, including:
- Our thoughts and perceptions
- How people react to us
- Our experiences at home, school, work, and in social situations
- Illness, disability, or injury
- Our age
- Our role and status in society
- Media messages
Much of what builds or breaks our self-esteem is the feedback that we get from those close to us – our family, friends, coworkers, etc. The more positive feedback we get, the better the self-esteem we have. If we constantly feel degraded by our loved ones, we are more likely to have a lower self-esteem. A healthy self-esteem doesn’t mean that we don’t recognize our flaws – in fact, it’s quite the opposite. When we view ourselves positively, we accept our flaws and still view ourselves as good people who are worthwhile.
There are many benefits to having a healthy self-esteem, including:
- Being assertive about what you want and need
- Being confident in your decision-making
- Able to form solid, healthy relationships and less unstable, dangerous ones
- Ability to be more realistic in your expectations and less critical of yourself and others
- Overall more resilience; better able to handle demanding situations
Think about your self-esteem today. Where are you at? Do you view yourself kindly, compassionately, and with forgiveness? Do you see yourself as a worthwhile human being who deserves love and respect? If not, you can work on building this by being patient with yourself, not comparing yourself to others, recognizing what you can offer to others, believing in yourself and spending your time with other people who believe in you, too.
Sometimes low self-esteem can take us to place we don’t want to be. If you’ve been struggling with a mental illness, make the decision to seek help today. There’s many people who can help you develop the tools you need to get back on track. It’s never too late.
If you’re seeking treatment for mental illness and/or substance abuse, call us today at 855-545-9124. Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed treatment center with licensed, experienced professionals who care about your recovery. Our dedicated healthcare team will work with you to ensure that you get the help that you need. Make the decision to place your health and happiness as top priority and call us for a consultation.
