Self-esteem relates to the way that we feel about ourselves and understand our value to the world.
People with low self-esteem often perceive themselves as having very little value and worth in the world, and therefore have little regard for their own feelings and hopes for the future.
Low self-esteem can be caused by a variety of factors, including damaging experiences which are both out and inside of our control.
Situations out of our control which can damage self-esteem include moments when someone else chooses to make us feel bad about ourselves. This can include bullying or relationships with parents, teachers or friends which make us feel inferior.
Situations within our control include moments where we allow a critical voice within ourselves to frame a moment as proof of our worthlessness. A recourse for both should be the conscious decision to heal and develop our own self-esteem on a daily basis.
This includes looking for and celebrating evidence which proves our worth and value to the world and ourselves. Some would argue that this borders on self-love. However, it might be useful to consider the words of Shakespeare when he wrote: “self-love is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting”.
