Self-esteem
People with a healthy level of self-esteem
1. Firmly believe in certain values and principles, and are ready to defend them even when finding opposition, feeling secure enough to modify them in light of experience.[14]
2. Are able to act according to what they think to be the best choice,
3. Trust their own judgment, and not feeling guilty when others don't like their choice.[14]
4. Do not lose time worrying excessively about what happened in the past, nor about what could happen in the future.
5. They learn from the past and plan for the future, but live in the present intensely.[14]
6. Fully trust in their capacity to solve problems,
7. Do not hesitating after failures and difficulties.
8. They ask others for help when they need it.[14]
9. Consider themselves equal in dignity to others, rather than inferior or superior,
10. They accept differences in certain talents, personal prestige or financial standing.[14]
11. Take for granted that they are an interesting and valuable person for others, at least for those with whom they have a friendship.[14]
12. Resist manipulation,
13. Collaborate with others only if it seems appropriate and convenient.[14]
14. Admit and accept different internal feelings and drives, either positive or negative, revealing those drives to others only when they choose.[14]
15. Are able to enjoy a great variety of activities.[14]
16. Are sensitive to feelings and needs of others;
17. Respect generally accepted social rules,
18. Claim no right or desire to prosper at others' expense.[14]
19. Can work toward finding solutions and voice discontent without belittling themselves or others when challenges arise.[30]
2. Are able to act according to what they think to be the best choice,
3. Trust their own judgment, and not feeling guilty when others don't like their choice.[14]
4. Do not lose time worrying excessively about what happened in the past, nor about what could happen in the future.
5. They learn from the past and plan for the future, but live in the present intensely.[14]
6. Fully trust in their capacity to solve problems,
7. Do not hesitating after failures and difficulties.
8. They ask others for help when they need it.[14]
9. Consider themselves equal in dignity to others, rather than inferior or superior,
10. They accept differences in certain talents, personal prestige or financial standing.[14]
11. Take for granted that they are an interesting and valuable person for others, at least for those with whom they have a friendship.[14]
12. Resist manipulation,
13. Collaborate with others only if it seems appropriate and convenient.[14]
14. Admit and accept different internal feelings and drives, either positive or negative, revealing those drives to others only when they choose.[14]
15. Are able to enjoy a great variety of activities.[14]
16. Are sensitive to feelings and needs of others;
17. Respect generally accepted social rules,
18. Claim no right or desire to prosper at others' expense.[14]
19. Can work toward finding solutions and voice discontent without belittling themselves or others when challenges arise.[30]
Low self-esteem
Low self-esteem can result from various factors, including genetic factors, physical appearance or weight, socioeconomic status, or peer pressure or bullying.[37]
A person with low self-esteem may show some of the following characteristics:[38]
Heavy self-criticism and dissatisfaction.[14]
Hypersensitivity to criticism with resentment against critics and feelings of being attacked.[14]
Chronic indecision and an exaggerated fear of mistakes.[14]
Excessive will to please and unwillingness to displease any petitioner.[14]
Perfectionism, which can lead to frustration when perfection is not achieved.[14]
Neurotic guilt, dwelling on and exaggerating the magnitude of past mistakes.[14]
Floating hostility and general defensiveness and irritability without any proximate cause.[14]
Pessimism and a general negative outlook.[14]
Envy, invidiousness, or general resentment.[14]
Sees temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions.[30] When given feedback, individuals with low self-esteem often take it personally, and can be devastated by it.
Low self-esteem individuals are very critical of themselves and depend on the approval of others for their own evaluation of self-worthiness.
A person with low self-esteem may show some of the following characteristics:[38]
Heavy self-criticism and dissatisfaction.[14]
Hypersensitivity to criticism with resentment against critics and feelings of being attacked.[14]
Chronic indecision and an exaggerated fear of mistakes.[14]
Excessive will to please and unwillingness to displease any petitioner.[14]
Perfectionism, which can lead to frustration when perfection is not achieved.[14]
Neurotic guilt, dwelling on and exaggerating the magnitude of past mistakes.[14]
Floating hostility and general defensiveness and irritability without any proximate cause.[14]
Pessimism and a general negative outlook.[14]
Envy, invidiousness, or general resentment.[14]
Sees temporary setbacks as permanent, intolerable conditions.[30] When given feedback, individuals with low self-esteem often take it personally, and can be devastated by it.
Low self-esteem individuals are very critical of themselves and depend on the approval of others for their own evaluation of self-worthiness.
They believe that a person's approval of them is dependent on their performance, whether it be academic, relationship, etc.
People with low self-esteem view their likeability in terms of successes: others will accept them if they succeed but will not if they fail.[39]
Abraham Maslow states that psychological health is not possible unless the essential core of the person is fundamentally accepted, loved and respected by others and by her or his self. Self-esteem allows people to face life with more confidence, benevolence and optimism, and thus easily reach their goals and self-actualize.[7] It allows a person to be more ambitious, but not with respect to possessions or success,[citation needed] but with respect to what they can experience emotionally, creatively and spiritually.[citation needed]
To develop self-esteem is to increase the capacity to be happy;[citation needed] self-esteem may make people convinced they deserve happiness.[7] Understanding this is fundamental, and universally beneficial, since the development of positive self-esteem increases the capacity to treat other people with respect, benevolence and goodwill,