What is self-esteem?

Self-esteem is about how you see yourself and the value you feel you have as a person—regardless of performance, results or what others think.

Healthy self-esteem makes it easier to handle setbacks, set boundaries and feel secure even when life is challenging.

Unlike self-confidence, self-esteem is not based on what you do, but on how you see yourself.

What is the difference between self-esteem and self-confidence?

Self-confidence is about believing in your ability to accomplish a task.

Self-esteem is about your sense of self-worth.

You can have high self-confidence at work while also having low self-esteem. Likewise, you can have strong self-esteem even if you sometimes doubt your performance.

Signs of low self-esteem

Common signs may include:

• You often compare yourself to others.
• You are hard on yourself.
• You find it difficult to accept praise.
• You constantly seek validation.
• You are afraid of failure.
• You often put other people's needs before your own.

How can you strengthen your self-esteem?

1. Accept that you do not need to be perfect

No one succeeds all the time.

2. Pay attention to your inner dialogue

Talk to yourself in the same way you would talk to a friend.

3. Set healthy boundaries

Saying no is sometimes a way of saying yes to yourself.

4. Recognize your worth beyond performance

You are more than your results.

5. Practice self-compassion

Show yourself understanding when life gets difficult.

Common misconceptions

• High self-esteem does not mean thinking you are better than others.
• Self-esteem is not about being perfect.
• Asking for help is not a sign of low self-esteem.

Frequently asked questions

Can you develop your self-esteem? Yes. Through reflection, self-awareness and new behaviors, self-esteem can develop over time.

What influences self-esteem? Past experiences, relationships, your environment and how you talk to yourself influence how you see yourself.

Is self-esteem important for mental well-being? Yes. Healthy self-esteem can contribute to greater resilience to stress and make it easier to handle life's challenges.

Next steps

Would you like to develop stronger self-esteem and build a more sustainable approach to how you relate to yourself?

Growmaster's program for individuals gives you practical tools for self-leadership, mental training and personal development. Read more about the Growmaster method and explore more articles in the Knowledge Hub.

Further reading:

• How can you strengthen your self-confidence?
• How can you manage stress?
• What is self-leadership?
• What is sustainable performance?