Self-esteem is a construct that looks at how you regard yourself and measure your personal self-worth. In order to live a healthy and fulfilling life, it is important to value and accept yourself as an individual. Low self-esteem can result from a variety of factors including: negative early experiences and relationships, devaluation, harshness and criticism, and lack of success and/or approval. No one, single event leads to low self-esteem, instead it develops over years of such experiences.
Low self-esteem can have a drastic impact on the quality of your life. It may prevent you from having the self-confidence to set and obtain your goals, because you instead may view them as unachievable. Low self-esteem may also hinder your social competence, leaving you anxious and afraid to meet new people or foster new relationships. A lack of self-esteem can negatively impact all areas of your life, whether it be related to personal experiences, your career or otherwise.
If you feel like you may be suffering from the negative consequences of low self-esteem, the psychologists at Defining Solutions can help. We will work with you to build confidence in yourself and your abilities by helping you identify your strengths and resources, as well as support you in building greater trust in yourself. Over time, you can learn to increasingly value yourself and see more clearly the strengths and gifts that you have to offer.