self esteem

The concept of self-esteem is often explained in terms of self-acceptance and self-respect. In some popular literature, positive self-talk practiced throughout the day is portrayed as a technique for overcoming poor self concept.

Positive self-worth is central to experiencing positive self-esteem, but it is an achievement earned by meeting life’s tasks on a day-to-day basis, often without great fanfare or acknowledgment by others. Achievement is both a product and promoter of what is called self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is confidence in one’s ability to reason, problem solve, think creatively, and cope with the basic tasks of life. This is not done in a vacuum.

Consequences of Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is the result of a human process so fundamental that it is a part of what constitutes human nature. From the time of birth, one begins experiencing life as pleasurable, satisfying, safe, supportive, or not. Individuals are alert to signs that convey what they can expect from others, their own efforts, and life in general. Although this process of seeking cues continues throughout people’s lives, their earliest experiences tend to establish the expectations that will guide them throughout the remainder of their lives.

As a consequence, people tend to filter new experiences according to their expectations. Equally important, they create new experiences that will reinforce their self-fulfilling prophecies about themselves, others, and life. Left unchallenged and unexamined, their early self-assessments tend to guide their thoughts, emotions, and actions much like an autopilot that has been preprogrammed to a distant destination. Therefore, early life experiences are the repository of anticipation of future success or lack thereof in meeting life tasks. Individuals with a positive sense of worth tend to approach their basic life tasks with a confidence and expectation that they will be successful and happy in all that they do. This fundamental difference between individuals with high and low sense of worth also explains the power of these convictions.

SUNIL KUMAR                                           JAYASUDHA KAMARAJ

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST                     COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST

FOUNDER - MIND ZONE                          CO-FOUNDER, MIND ZONE

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