Self-Esteem Development
Self-esteem, how you feel about yourself, is defined as your sense of worth or value that has developed in response to your self-concept, your ideas about yourself. When people feel that their skills and abilities are worthwhile and valued, their self-esteem elevates. High self-esteem can have a positive impact on your interactions with others and thus help you to support others in developing positive self-concepts. Low self-esteem can limit your motivation and positive sense of self because you feel that you have little to contribute.
What Matters Most is How You See Yourself
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Influences on Self-Esteem Development
Your self-concept defines who you believe you are. This sense of self is influenced by many factors including age, physical ability, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, messages received from others, diversity, culture, and gender. Each of these factors can have a significant impact on who you believe you are and how you will communicate with those around you.
Who are you?As you reflect on this question write as many characteristics as possible that describe who you believe you are. Consider all aspects of your life.
When you have completed your list answer the following questions: Was this exercise difficult? What types of descriptors seem most fundamental to your self-concept? Why? What descriptors do you see as the least likely to change? Why? Do you think others would describe you as you have yourself? This information will be helpful to you as you learn and develop your skills.
