What is Self-Esteem?

self-esteem

Self-esteem is how a person sees and feels about themselves overall – their sense of “I’m okay and I have value” (or not). It is the inner opinion of one’s own worth and abilities, rather than what other people think.

What self-esteem is

Self-esteem is a person’s general feeling of being “good enough” and capable, with a basic level of self-respect.

It includes both confidence in one’s abilities (“I can handle things”) and a sense of worth (“I deserve to be treated decently and to be happy”).

Healthy vs low self-esteem

With healthy self-esteem, people usually like themselves, notice their strengths and weaknesses realistically, and can bounce back from mistakes without collapsing into self-hate.
With low self-esteem, people often see themselves as “not good enough,” are very self-critical, doubt their abilities, and may accept poor treatment because they do not feel they deserve better.

Both very low and unrealistically high self-esteem can cause problems; the goal is a grounded, honest, basically kind view of oneself.

Why self-esteem matters

Self-esteem affects how people:

Make decisions, take risks, and try new things.
Choose relationships and set boundaries (what they tolerate from others).
Cope with stress, setbacks, and criticism.

Healthier self-esteem is linked with better mental health, greater resilience, and higher overall life satisfaction.

Simple ways to support healthier self-esteem

Talk to yourself more kindly: Notice harsh self-talk and deliberately replace it with fair, balanced messages (for example, “I made a mistake, but that doesn’t mean I’m worthless”).

Build real skills and small wins: Taking small steps, learning, and completing tasks gives solid evidence that you can cope and improve.

Spend time with people who treat you with respect: Supportive relationships reinforce the sense that you matter; ongoing put-downs do the opposite.

Self-esteem is the inner “score” a person gives themselves; strengthening it means learning to see oneself more truthfully and more kindly, and proving through action that one’s efforts and needs actually matter.