SELF ESTEEM AND SELF CONFIDENCE
Before you consider your own level of self esteem, it is imperative you process what self-esteem means to you, even if you think the definition is self explanatory.
Essentially, self esteem is measured as high or low or somewhere in the middle by how we perceive ourselves. Our opinions of, beliefs about, and the value we place on ourselves, will tell if your self esteem is high or low.
Are you able to acknowledge and communicate to others, your skills and strengths? If you are paid a compliment, do you instantly dismiss it or disbelieve what you are hearing?
In the image of a woman facing a lake, do you think she is happy or sad?
If your working life gets tough or tricky or stressful, can you leave it to one side at the end of your working day and tell yourself that it is a 'tomorrow' job? Do you talk to yourself kindly if you make a mistake fully accepting that you are not a machine and the phrase 'human error' exists for good reason?
Do you believe that your best is good enough even if your best needs a little more work and experience? Do you value yourself enough to confidently express your needs, fears, wants and dreams? Do you believe you deserve to be happy?
Is the man on the pier in awe of the mist or feeling lost in the fog?
Both of the questions about the images are similar to the age-old question, is your glass half full or half empty? Both images are ambiguous and so open to misinterpretation according to current mindsets.
If you believe that your self esteem is low and you lack in self confidence, the fact you are reading this has to be a loud enough message to yourself that you want to work on finding more confidence and moving on positively with your life.
The most important fact to hang on to is that low self esteem impacts upon our mental health but it is not a mental health illness. It can affect behaviour, thoughts and emotions. It can make people doubt their abilities and worth, worry about how they are perceived by others and negatively affect our relationships with others.
There is no mistaking that this image is of someone loving the rain!
When someone lacks in confidence and has low self esteem it is always best to talk over your feelings and symptoms with your doctor so that anything more serious can be either eliminated or medically addressed.
If you know that life has knocked you sideways a little or that you have endured a long period of stress or unhappiness (maybe due to a relationship ending or the loss of a job for example) then I hope that there's a little help to be found here. A long period of any stressful situation leaves us feeling exhausted, battered and bruised and although it may seem impossible, it is something you can overcome - but you have to want to work hard on yourself and for yourself.
The first massive step is to make friends with yourself again. If you don't love yourself, how can you possibly know how love to others?