Do you struggle with self-esteem and self-confidence?

Believe in yourself.

I am a woman in my mid-50s, who by all outwardly appearances am confident and accomplished. However, throughout my life I have struggled with my self-esteem and confidence. As an introvert, I naturally want to be an observer. When I begin to doubt myself, I become even more hesitant to participate and engage in social settings. The struggle for confidence and self-esteem can be rooted in various challenges from childhood and from adulthood. As a psychotherapist, I see many individuals who come to therapy with the goal of improving their confidence and self-esteem. In other words, there are many of us who have different internal feelings and beliefs that impact our identity and how we interact in the world.

Self-esteem is the personal understanding that one is worthy and that you can hold yourself in positive regard. It is the confidence in one’s own worth and self-respect for who you are. Healthy Self-esteem is positively holding one’s values and having a favorable attitude towards oneself (Morris Rosenberg, 1965).

Self-confidence is the outward expression of one’s positive belief about oneself. It is the capacity to function with belief that one’s actions will have an acceptable outcome. Self-confidence is the trust in one’s abilities, beliefs, and values.

There are many different influences on one’s self-esteem and self-confidence. These include, and are not limited to:

Age
Childhood and life experiences
Genetics
Personality
Health
Thoughts and Beliefs
Social circumstances
The reactions of others
Trauma
Comparing the self to others
Environmental beliefs and systems

There are several ways to improve self-esteem and self-confidence. Experiences in life and a strong personal identity can be important factors in one’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Working with a therapist can help you identify the challenges that you may struggle with that influence your self-esteem and self-confidence. However you decide to tackle this, if you do, you will gain a greater sense of freedom and satisfaction that can help you have a more fulfilling and flourishing life.