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The QuietMind series:
Volume Four:
Increasing Self-Esteem
What is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem is the way you feel about yourself and how you value yourself. Self-esteem
is linked to self-confidence and a feeling of pride in yourself as an individual. Your self-
esteem reflects your opinion of yourself.
Healthy Self-Esteem:
When you have healthy and positive self-esteem, you evaluate yourself in a positive light.
You are confident and proud of yourself. You might appraise yourself in a specific way,
such as, “I am proud of how well I painted that picture.” You may also evaluate yourself
in a more general way such as, “I like who I am in the world. I am honest and generous.”
Low Self-Esteem:
If you have poor self-esteem, you probably are dissatisfied with many aspects of who you
are. This can be physical, emotional, or intellectual. You may have a negative opinion
of yourself, or a negative self-image. You may have a low level of self-assurance or self-
respect. Maybe you think you are not good enough, not lovable, not thin enough, not
smart enough, not financially successful, not good-looking enough, etc.
Possible Effects of Low Self-Esteem:
• Impacts your faith and confidence in yourself.
• Wears down optimism regarding your future.
• Negatively influences you to use poor judgment and make poor choices.
• Negatively interferes with many aspects of life such as professional, academic,
interpersonal relationships, and mental and physical health.
REMEMBER: LOW SELF-ESTEEM CAN BE UNLEARNED.