Self-esteem is the overall, lasting judgment a person makes about themselves, the value they assign to themselves as a person. It differs from self-confidence (a sense of competence in a specific area) and self-love (unconditional kindness toward oneself). Self-esteem is built in childhood but can be worked on at any age. It shapes life choices, relationships, and the ability to assert oneself.
In practice, self-esteem answers the question "am I worth something as a person?", independent of any specific area. It differs from self-confidence, which answers "am I capable of doing this particular task?" You can have high confidence in your job while having fragile overall self-esteem.
A professional highly regarded in their field (high work confidence) can still feel inadequate in their overall personal worth, judging themselves harshly outside their professional success. Success in one area doesn't always repair self-esteem weakened since childhood.
Self-esteem is not arrogance or excessive self-love: healthy self-esteem acknowledges your worth without needing to compare yourself to others or feel superior.
Yes, they're two distinct dimensions: you can feel generally worthy and valuable while still doubting your skills in a specific, new area.
It mostly forms in childhood, but it remains changeable in adulthood through corrective experiences, therapy or coaching work, and a kinder inner dialogue.
Healthy self-esteem doesn't need constant validation or putting others down to feel good; excessive narcissism specifically depends on that ongoing comparison and external validation.
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