{"id":4897,"date":"2021-06-27T22:07:46","date_gmt":"2021-06-27T12:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.resourcezone.com.au\/?p=4897"},"modified":"2021-06-27T22:10:18","modified_gmt":"2021-06-27T12:10:18","slug":"why-does-good-self-esteem-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.resourcezone.com.au\/?p=4897","title":{"rendered":"Why Does Good Self-Esteem Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

At the simplest level, good self-esteem (self-worth or self-acceptance) is important for forming good relationships with others because accepting yourself enables you to interact with other people more effectively. A lack of healthy self-esteem is often the source of many relationship-centred problems such as a lack of self-confidence, being critical of others, excessive competitiveness, jealousy or envy, taking things personally, and subtle forms of exaggerated ego.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, self-criticism is an automatic thought pattern for many people. Self-critical thoughts tend to repeat themselves over and over again. In that case, an individual may need to learn how to consciously manage his or her thought processes. In this article we will look at a few ways in which we might do this.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/strong>What can we do to lift or improve Self-esteem?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The first step to resolving a problem of low self-esteem is to understand that it is an automatic psychological pattern. Although we are not going to suggest that building self-esteem is either a fast or easy journey for any individual, there are five key steps that can help in many situations.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Take time to think, ask questions and re-frame<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A feeling of self-acceptance\/esteem arises from perceptions\/feelings that are both conscious and unconscious. Most of us can readily identify the conscious part of the self-esteem equation because we can identify the explicit messages that we have been given over our life. Most individuals either accept or reject the messages given to them from parents, relatives, close friends, teachers and others but, in so doing start to form an idea about who they are \u2013 especially in comparison to others. This may be broadly positive or negative but at least the sources of the feelings are known.<\/span><\/p>\n

Few people are explicitly aware of the more subliminal messages that we progressively take on board as a result of interpreting what we experience in life. This often manifests itself as a general non-specific feeling that we are \u201cbasically good\u201d, \u201copen and honest\u201d, \u201cmostly upbeat\u201d, and \u201ca fun loving person\u201d for example, on the more positive side, or \u201cprone to not follow through\u201d, \u201cforgetful\u201d, \u201ctake life too seriously\u201d or \u201ca bit of a loser\u201d on the more negative side. We may not hear these messages explicitly but we \u201cderive\u201d that this is what \u201cthe world\u201d thinks about us.  Individuals with higher levels of self-esteem tend to demonstrate behaviour which is more flexible, more open in expressing wants and needs and more able to learn from feedback from others. Individuals with lower levels of self-esteem tend to demonstrate behaviour which is more rigid, more closed or quiet about expressing wants and needs and less able to learn from feedback from others. They therefore assume a much less personally attractive self-image and often feel trapped by it.<\/span><\/p>\n

By simply reflecting on how we view ourselves we can start to become more aware of what is real and what is simply past \u201cbaggage\u201d. We may not be able to jettison all of this but we can often make a start.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Carefully assess all of your forward options<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When evaluating what we can do about low levels of self-esteem, our evaluation should ideally be other-centred rather than self-centred. If we think about different ways in which we might stop criticising others and accept them for who they are, we are likely to reduce the amount of self-critical behaviour we engage in. Hence, the more we will think about our future possibilities for action in a positive rather than a negative way.<\/span><\/p>\n

 3. <\/strong>Select the plan(s) with the best chance of succeeding<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Although there are some dangers in generalising, and there are differences in approach for people who have more extraverted or more introverted preferences, the following are likely to increase levels of self-esteem for most people as they select particular plans or courses of action on a day-to-day basis:<\/span><\/p>\n