SELF ESTEEM-- HOW DO YOU EVALUATE YOURSELF

Self esteem simply put, is the way we think and feel about
ourselves.
Self esteem is an evaluation of one’s self accepted by one
which influences the way one thinks about him/herself.
Self esteem is the positive or negative evaluation of the
self, as in how we feel about ourselves; it reflects a
person’s overall subjective emotional evaluation of his or
her own worth; it is a judgment of one’s self as well as an
attitude toward the self.
Possessing little self regard can lead people to become
depressed, to fall short of their potential, or to tolerate
abusive situations and relationships because they do not
realize they deserve better.
Too much self love on the other hand, can result in an off
putting sense of entitlement and an inability to learn from
failures which results in pride. It is very important for
individuals to strike a balance between accurate self
knowledge and respect for who they are.
It is important for one to get attain a healthy level of self
esteem also known as high self esteem in other to achieve
the best results. A person whose self esteem is high is
usually full of rigor, life and confidence. To attain this level
of self esteem, one has to gain control of one. Desist from
condemning yourself and be kind to yourself.
List out your good qualities and believe in them and
yourself. Stop being negative about yourself; learn to be
positive and be assertive about it. Accept the fact that you
are human and it is human to make mistakes, aim for
effort rather than perfection because confidence according
to Peter McIntyre comes not from always being right but
from not fearing to be wrong.
Having a low opinion of yourself is not modesty but self
destruction and holding your uniqueness in high regard in
neither egotism nor pride, but a necessary precondition to
happiness and success. When one has a healthy level of
self esteem, their beliefs are generally positive. They look
at things from the sunny side. On the other hand, if the
level of self esteem is low, the beliefs would often be
negative. Such people focus on their weaknesses and
flaws leaving out other positive aspects of their lives.
According to Eleanor Roosevelt, “no one can make you feel
inferior without your consent”. You should not allow
someone’s opinion of you to become your reality because
the most important opinion you should have is the one
you have of yourself. To trust one’s mind and know to
know that one is truly worthy of happiness is the very
essence of self esteem.
Self esteem is a major force in self motivation. It is a
strong driving force in motivation. When one is motivated
from within, they do not lose motivate by things or
circumstances surrounding them. Self esteem is affected
by physical ill-health, negative life events such as losing a
job or getting divorced, deficient or frustrating
relationships, and a general sense of lack of control. This
sense of lack of control is often particularly marked in
people who are the victims of emotional, physical or
sexual abuse, or of discrimination on the grounds of
religion, culture, race, or sexual orientation.
Childhood experiences such as prolonged separation from
parent figures, neglect, or emotional, physical or sexual
abuse are also causes of depression or borderline
personality disorder. People who have suffered long term
low self esteem generally see the world as a hostile place
and believe themselves to be the victim. These make them
feel reluctant to express and assert themselves, lose
experiences and opportunities, and feel helpless about
changing things which they should stand for. It also
creates anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression and an
increased vulnerability to drug and alcohol abuse.
All this lowers their self esteem even further. People with
high self esteem generally feel good about themselves and
appreciate their own worth. In the same vein, they
acknowledge their weaknesses but do not allow those
weaknesses to overwhelm them and determine who they
are or how they live their lives. This means that they are
in a very powerful position because they have the
capability to keep their heads up no matter where they
find themselves or what others think of them simply by
choosing to think very positively about themselves and
their abilities. One of the characteristics of healthy esteem
is that it places one in state where one is not at war either
with himself or others.
People with are not driven by the urge to make themselves
superior to others; they do not seek to prove their value
by measuring themselves against a comparative or set
standards, rather their joy comes from being who they
are, and not in being better than someone else. High self
esteem builds confidence in individuals which leads to
more success in life this is because the more confident
one is, the more likely one is to try to achieve new feats. It
also brings about peace of mind and a healthier and
better life style. Do whatever it takes to keep your esteem
high enough to a healthy level. Do not allow anybody or
situations to change your thinking to the negative side.
Always see things positively because you have the power
to lead a happy life, full of confidence.
Be yourself. You are who you are and no one can take
that away from you. You are unique in your own way.