Looking Inward for Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is the value that we place on ourselves.
Unfortunately, we often permit that value to be determined by whoever is looking at us—our audience. That may not be the best way to have self-esteem defined, but often, as individuals, we take those cues and run with them.
As children, we looked to our parents to define our world and our value. Whether they said “Good job!” or “Bad job!” we learned to look to the important people in our lives to determine our self-worth. For example a child, who might otherwise have no reason to be ashamed of being short in stature, could face serious blows to his or her self-esteem if one or both parents were adamant about him or her becoming a superstar in basketball. “You’re too short,” might become a familiar refrain, teaching the child that he or she is not good enough. Read More