The INS & OUTS of Self-Esteem
WHAT IS SELF-ESTEEM?
Self-esteem can best be described as how a person thinks or feels about themselves. It is also often thought as a measure of worth someone puts on themselves as a person.
WHY IS SELF ESTEEM IMPORTANT?
A healthy level of self-esteem is one of the most important attributes a person can have. HIGH SELF-ESTEEM can increase your confidence, help you communicate effectively, allow you to flourish in your social life, improve your performance at work, and can open up a world of different opportunities for you. However, LOW SELF-ESTEEM can have quite the opposite effect. It can cause relationship problems, negatively impact your performance across numerous areas of life (e.g., work, sport, academics etc.), and cause you to experience a range of different negative emotions, including sadness, anxiety, depression, guilt, shame, and frustration.
WHAT CAUSES LOW SELF-ESTEEM?
Oftentimes low self-esteem can begin in early-to-middle childhood. This is a very sensitive time in our lives as we start trying to figure out who we are as a person.
Am I the funny one? The cool one? The sporty one? The popular one?
Going through negative experiences during this time like family/social challenges, academic struggles, or general failure are all things that can cause us to develop unhealthy (and often inaccurate) ideas about ourselves…Ideas like, “I’m a loser. I’m no good. I can’t do anything right. I’m dumb. I’m unloved” etc. These negative views can last long into adulthood and sometimes be lifelong without intervention.
HOW TO OVERCOME LOW SELF-ESTEEM?
One of the most important things a person with low self-esteem can do is to acknowledge their positive attributes. This is something that people with low self-esteem often fail to do due to engaging in ‘Confirmation Bias’. This is when you only look for evidence that supports your belief or idea and ignore evidence that challenges it, resulting in a skewed and inaccurate perspective.
FOR EXAMPLE…if a football player is experiencing low self-esteem, they are much more likely to focus on the mistakes they make during a game rather than the things they do well, even if they play very well and only make 1-2 minor mistakes.
This unhealthy thinking style can maintain low self-esteem. One of the best ways to gain a healthier attitude by ‘acknowledging your positives’ is to keep a journal and write down what your belief was, and what actually happened. Sometimes being able to visually see the evidence against your belief can be quite powerful in reshaping the way we think about ourselves.
If you struggle with low self-esteem, why not give us a call today? Our team of highly skilled and well-experienced Psychologists and mental health professionals are here to help. Call us now and take the next step towards supporting your personal growth and self-improvement.
How to Access a Psychologist at CQ Psych Services:
- Contact us directly by calling 07 4972 6929 or email admin@cqpsychservices.com.au
- Ask your GP or health professional to refer you to our clinic.
- Come in and see our friendly staff at Shop 1 & 2, 13 Tank Street, Gladstone QLD 4680.
- Visit our website and complete a ‘Request an Appointment’ form and one of our friendly staff will reply to your enquiry. Website: https://cqpsychservices.com.au/
Author: Tom Grainger
Psychologist
