Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself.
yourself, and how much you like yourself. Self-esteem is related to your worth and value. .
Building self-esteem is the first step towards your happiness, and better life. It also .
increases your confidence, if you have confidence, you will respect yourself, which will .
help you improve your relationships, your achievements, and your happiness. Good self-esteem is .
important because it helps you to hold your head high, feel proud of yourself, and feel good about .
what you can do. It gives you the courage to try new things and the power to believe in yourself. .
Having good self-esteem is also the ticket to making good choices about your mind and body. If .
you think you"re important, you"ll be less likely to follow the crowd, and more likely to value .
your safety, your feelings, and your health.
Low self-esteem can be caused by a large variety of factors. It could stem from the way .
you were raised, something that your parents did, or something as simple as a friend saying, .
"It looks like you gained some weight." Your perception of certain activities can make you feel .
embarrassed, or stupid, which are primary causes of low self-esteem. Your level of self-esteem is .
based on your own experiences, and relationships that have made up your life. Having positive .
and fulfilling relationships help raise your self-esteem, negative experiences and troubled .
relationships tend to lower self-esteem. Things that happen at school, within your family and in .
your society can influence your self-esteem. Low self-esteem can negatively effect every aspect .
of your life, from work to relationships. Some studies have shown a close relationship between .
low self-esteem and such problems as violence, alcoholism, drug abuse, eating disorders, school .
dropouts, teenage pregnancy, suicide, and low academic achievement. Individuals with defensive .
or low self-esteem typically focus on trying to prove themselves or impress others.
