What is self-esteem?

There are many definitions of self-esteem. The key to a healthy self-esteem is to live a life where good and bad things happen, however, your belief in your core self is not affected by these events (e.g. you don't think you're a bad person because someone else is upset with you!).

Nathaniel Branden has defined self-esteem in a very interesting way. He states that self esteem is encompassed in our:

1. Confidence in our ability to think and to cope with the basic challenges of life (doing well)

2. Confidence in our right to be happy, the feeling of being worthy, deserving, entitled to assert our needs and wants and entitled to enjoy the fruits of our efforts (feeling good).

When you look at this definition, ask yourself, do you feel these things and if not, what beliefs, thoughts, experiences and feelings might be influencing your ability to develop and sustain a strong self-esteem.

Source: N.Branden (1992). The power of self-esteem (Deerfield Beach, Fla, Health Communications), In. Seligman, M.E.P (1995). The Optimistic Child, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.