Confidence and self-esteem

Confidence and self-esteem

Overview

The words self-confidence and self-esteem may be used interchangeably, however, they are two different things[1].  

  • Self-confidence is the belief in yourself and your abilities. You accept and acknowledge that you have control over your life, and you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Having a high or low self-confidence is based on your perception and is also derived from other factors such as the environment that you grow up in, separation from family and close friends, self-judgement or fear of failure[2].  
  • Self-esteem is how you perceive yourself. It refers to the value and appreciation that you place on yourself and it develops throughout your life as a result of experiences and interaction with other people[1].

People may lose self-confidence at some point in their lives, however, people with low self-esteem are mostly unsatisfied and unhappy about themselves. Nevertheless, a lack of confidence and low self-esteem may affect how you feel about yourself and your abilities. 

Signs of Low Self-Confidence

  • Feelings of Self-Doubt: Feeling self-doubt involves constantly questioning your abilities and decisions. This can lead to hesitation in taking action or making choices, as you're often unsure if you're doing the right thing. Self-doubt can undermine your confidence, making it difficult to trust your judgment.
  • Passive or Submissive Behavior: This behaviour is characterized by a reluctance to assert your opinions or needs. You might avoid expressing your thoughts or desires, allowing others to make decisions for you. This can lead to a lack of control over your own life and a feeling of being overshadowed by others.
  • Difficulty Trusting Others: Having trouble trusting others often stems from fear of being let down or betrayed. You might find it challenging to form deep connections, as you're sceptical of others' intentions. This can create barriers to building meaningful relationships and leave you feeling isolated.
  • Feeling Inferior to Others: This involves a persistent belief that others are more capable or successful than you. You might frequently compare yourself unfavourably to your peers, leading to feelings of inadequacy. This can affect your self-esteem and discourage you from pursuing opportunities.
  • Overly Sensitive to Criticism: Being overly sensitive to criticism means taking feedback personally and reacting emotionally. It can be difficult to separate constructive criticism from personal attacks, which might result in dwelling on negative comments. This sensitivity can hinder personal growth and damage self-esteem.
  • Feeling Unloved: Feeling unloved is often rooted in the belief that you are not deserving of love or affection. This can make it difficult to accept compliments or positive attention, as you may doubt their sincerity. Fear of rejection or abandonment can further reinforce these feelings, impacting relationships[3]. 

Signs of Low Self-Esteem

  • Extremely Critical of Yourself: You often engage in harsh self-criticisms such as focusing on your perceived faults and mistakes, which can overshadow your achievements and strengths. This critical mindset can prevent you from recognizing your true potential.
  • Downplays or Ignores Their Positive Qualities: This involves minimizing your accomplishments and positive traits. You might attribute successes to external factors rather than your abilities, making it to appreciate your own worth.
  • Judges Yourself to Be Inferior to Peers: This characteristic involves constantly comparing oneself unfavourably to others. You may feel that you don't measure up to those around you, creating a persistent sense of inferiority that can impact your confidence and motivation.
  • Describe Yourself Negatively: Habitually use unflattering language to describe yourself, such as calling yourself "stupid," "fat," "ugly," or "unlovable." This negative self-description reinforces a poor self-image and can be damaging to your mental health. Moreover, you may also engage in negative self-talk, involving internal conversations that are critical and self-blaming. These negative thought patterns can become automatic responses, further entrenching low self-esteem.
  • Assumes That Luck Plays a Large Role in Your Achievements: You often attribute your successes to luck, overseeing your own efforts and skills. This belief prevents you from taking credit for your accomplishments and can diminish your sense of agency.
  • Self-blaming: When challenges or failures arise, you can often blame yourself entirely, ignoring external factors. This self-blame can lead to feelings of helplessness and reinforce a negative self-view.
  • Sceptical When Being Complimented: Skepticism towards compliments is common, as they may feel undeserving of praise. This disbelief can make it difficult for them to accept positive feedback and can perpetuate feelings of inadequacy[4]. 

Therapies that may assist this symptom:

Crystal Therapy Energy Healing Life Coaching Personal Training Sound Therapy Brain Gym® EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Systemic Family Constellation Essences Counselling Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Psychology Time Line Therapy® Corporate Yoga Kundalini Yoga Sandplay Therapy Dance Movement Therapy Laughter Yoga ThetaHealing® Coaching Access Consciousness Bars® Expressive Arts Therapy Quantum Consciousness Kids Yoga Therapeutic Voicework Somatic Experiencing Rapid Transformational Therapy® Resource Therapy Horticultural Therapy Animal Assisted Therapy Art Therapy Ashtanga Yoga Colour Therapy Forest Therapy Kinesiology Neurofeedback Occupational Therapy Reiki Yoga Therapy Social Work Health and Wellness Coaching BodyTalk Astrology Akashic Records Reading Show all

References

1. Self-esteem and self-confidence. The University of Queensland; 2024.

2. What is Self-Confidence? University of South Florida; 2024.

3. How to regain lost self-confidence. MedicalNewsToda; 2024.

4. Self esteem. BetterHealth Channel; 2024.

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