What is self-esteem and personal development?

Self-esteem is the measure of your own self-worth, self-love, and self-acceptance. It evolves during the formative years of childhood and adolescence when individuals compare their authentic selves to an aspirational "ideal self" and to the standards set by those around them.

Personal development encompasses deliberate actions and transformative changes we undertake in our lives to cultivate more constructive behaviours and attitudes than those we currently possess.

What does low self-esteem look like?

Sustaining a healthy self-esteem paves the way for increased happiness and self-assurance. Conversely, when self-esteem is lacking, people often exhibit the following characteristics:

• Diminished self-confidence and lack of belief in yourself
• Reluctance to express opinions for fear of rejection or a perception that your thoughts hold less value than those of others
• Sense of unworthiness and feeling undeserving of positive things
• Dependency on external approval and an overreliance on validation from others
• Persistent feelings of unhappiness
• Easily demotivated and difficulty in maintaining enthusiasm and focus
• Experiencing heightened anxiety or nervousness 
• Feeling guilty or unattractive without a real cause 

Why does low self-esteem occur?

Low self-esteem can stem from various sources, including a stagnancy in some areas of life or as a consequence of abusive relationships. In addition, emotional disorders like depression or anxiety, specific phobias, or sleep disorders and their disruption to daily routines can also lead to low self-esteem.

Can low self-esteem be prevented?

To foster and preserve healthy self-esteem, retraining yourself to counteract negative thought patterns is key. Observing your thoughts and their structures can help to deconstruct and rationalise them, eventually allowing you to break free from repetitive negative self-talk to focus on positive affirmations.

Realistic self-assessment is crucial, recognising that perfection is unattainable but constructive self-critique can lead to personal growth. When confronting difficult or disappointing situations, accepting the key facts and focusing on positive changes you can make can help you to move forward and make progress. 

Setting achievable goals contributes to overall wellbeing as small steps towards your final objective are achieved. When setbacks occur, self-blame and negative self-talk should be avoided. In contrast, constructive and objective analysis of the situation can allow you to form your next positive steps to achieve your goals. Comparing yourself to others should also be avoided, as it can lead to unhelpful self-criticism or a loss of momentum in your journey to achieving your own goals. 

What strategies are involved in personal development?

Various exercises and strategies can be helpful in boosting a person's self-esteem and encouraging their personal development. These include:

• Positive self-affirmations: repeatedly reinforcing positive beliefs about oneself
• Self-reflection: acknowledging and appreciating your value
• Professional support from a psychologist or therapist
• Mindfulness and meditation to enhance self-awareness and self-compassion
• Self-help resources: reading books or other resources like podcasts which are dedicated to personal growth

Improving your self-esteem not only enhances personal wellbeing but can also extend a positive influence into many other areas of life, such as relationships, work and overall fulfilment.