Other Issues >> Self - Esteem

SELF-ESTEEM
Low self-esteem can lead to depression, unhappiness, insecurity, and low self-confidence. Building your self-esteem is the beginning of moving towards happiness and a better life. If you have low self-esteem it will be impossible for you to reach your full potential and will affect both your personal and professional life.

WHAT IS HEALTHY SELF-ESTEEM?
Healthy self-esteem does not imply over confidence.

People who have an OK level of self-esteem are:

Confident without being overbearing Not devastated by criticism Not overly defensive when questioned Active and achievement oriented without being driven Mostly happy with themselves as they are Not easily defeated by setbacks and obstacles

They are also:

Able to accept and learn from their own mistakes Unlikely to feel a need to put others down Open and assertive in communicating their needs Self reliant and resourceful without refusing help Not overly worried about failing or looking foolish Not harshly or destructively critical of themselves Not aggressively driven to prove themselves – people with normal self-esteem are happy with themselves as they are Able to laugh at themselves, not taking themselves too seriously

People with normal self-esteem might doubt themselves from time to time but their sense of self worth consistently reverts to a balanced state. Having healthy self-esteem does not mean feeling perfect. It is just not being continually plagued by self doubt. Having normal self-esteem means not being excessively high one minute and feeling completely worthless the next.

SOURCE: www.leadersdirect.com
Author: Mitch McCrimmon, Ph.D.

SELF-ESTEEM SELF TEST

Answer TRUE or FALSE to the following statements Other people are not better off or more fortunate than me I accept myself as I am and am happy with myself I enjoy socializing I deserve love and respect I feel valued and needed I don’t need others to tell me I have done a good job Being myself is important I make friends easily I can accept criticism without feeling put down I admit my mistakes openly I never hide my true feelings I always speak up for myself and out my views across I am a happy, carefree person I don’t worry what others think of my views I don’t need others’ approval to feel good I don’t feel guilty about doing or saying what I want

TEST SCORE: Total number of TRUE answers you gave, EACH ONE POINT:

15-16 Points - You have a high level of self-esteem! 12-14 Points - Not bad but room for you to improve 8-11 Points - Low self-esteem is holding you back Below 8 Points - Your esteem is drastically low!

SOURCE: www.more-selfesteem.com
Author: Karl Perera

Therapy can help you significantly improve your self-esteem. If you are concerned about the level of your self-esteem you do not need to suffer any longer.