The importance of self-esteem in your daily life

Did you know that self-esteem is of great importance in our daily lives? This It significantly impacts mental and emotional health and relationships with others. That is, the way we value and perceive ourselves influences our daily lives.

Even decision making, performance, and self-confidence are linked to healthy self-esteem. It is an ongoing process that requires self-reflection, self-care, and inner work.

As psychologist Silvia Congost points out, self-esteem is the basis of most of the problems that human beings experience. Let’s delve into the topic.

How does self-esteem influence our daily lives?

Cultivating self-esteem is important to promote well-being in ourselves. And its influence is notable in various aspects of daily development. Next, we explain how self-perception intervenes in life.

Motivation and performance

A person with healthy self-esteem tends to have greater motivation and performance in daily life. By believing in your abilities and self-worth, you are more inclined to face challenges, set goals, and strive to achieve them.

Self-esteem correlates with self-confidence, as noted in a publication from the University of Queensland, which drives the person to make an effort and be consistent in their work, studies or other goals.

decision making

Self-esteem influences decision-making every day, as highlighted by a work in Scientific Reports. A person with positive self-esteem tends to trust their judgment more, allowing you to choose with greater security and in alignment with your values ​​and needs.

Furthermore, this perception prevents excessive fear of failure or the opinion of others. Let’s look at an example.

Someone considering a career change, if they have good self-esteem, will trust their ability to make informed decisions and follow the path that best fits their interests and values. Your self-esteem will give you the confidence to overcome fears and challenges. On the contrary, low self-esteem would make you doubt your worth and be afraid to take risks.

Relationships

Self-esteem affects relationships with others; If it is healthy, there is a greater chance of establishing balanced relationships, based on mutual respect and appropriate limits. (He, 2022). In addition, good self-esteem influences the ability to communicate assertively, express needs and establish satisfactory relationships. Below is an example of this.

If you are invited to a party where you don’t know many people, you will feel comfortable and confident interacting with others, making new friends, and participating in conversations naturally, if you have good self-esteem.

On the contrary, low self-esteem would cause anxiety or fear of being judged or rejected, which hinders the ability to relate and enjoy the social experience.

Emotional well-being

A work published in Current Psychology points out that positive self-esteem contributes to greater satisfaction with oneself and with life in general, which can influence a more balanced state of mind. People with good self-esteem are less likely to experience high levels of anxiety, stress or depression in their daily routine.

Self-care and self-respect

Self-esteem affects daily life to the extent that a person takes care of themselves and feels satisfaction in their daily activities, suggests a study published by Materia Socio-Médica. If self-esteem is positive, physical, emotional and mental well-being is prioritized; then time and effort is dedicated to self-care.

The latter includes regular exercise, healthy eating, adequate rest, and seeking activities that bring pleasure and satisfaction. An example? If you decide to start a regular exercise routine, healthy self-esteem allows you to value yourself enough and motivate you to dedicate time and effort to take care of your body and health.

Instead, Low self-esteem causes difficulties in committing to oneself and makes us doubt our capabilities aimed at positive changes; The consequence is the rapid abandonment of the exercise routine.

How do internal dialogue and self-demand affect self-esteem?

Internal dialogue and self-demand are two important factors in self-esteem. Often, we are not aware of the dialogue with ourselves, nor of the levels of self-demand. Have you stopped to think if said dialogue is negative, critical and self-deprecating? When this is the case, we are more likely to have low self-esteem.

Negative thoughts include excessive self-criticism, constant comparisons with others, limiting beliefs about our own abilities, and devaluing our achievements. It is important to address and change negative self-talk to foster healthy self-esteem.

On the other hand, If we are too demanding and perfectionist, we are likely to judge ourselves harshly when we don’t meet our own standards. This may lead to stress, frustration, and a constant feeling of not being good enough. Excessive self-demand undermines self-esteem by making us feel dissatisfied with ourselves and our achievements.

Conclusion

It is important to learn to set realistic expectations and accept that we are imperfect human beings. Working on internal dialogue and self-demand requires time, patience and self-reflection. It may be helpful to seek professional support to address these issues more effectively. and build balanced self-esteem.

Healthy self-esteem allows us to enjoy daily life, establish positive relationships, and reach our full potential. It is a continuous process, of ups and downs, that requires self-knowledge, self-compassion and constant effort, but the benefits are worth it.

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