SELF ESTEEM

DEFINITION
Self esteem refers to ones overall assessment of ones worth as a person. It is the evaluative component of ones self concept. Your self-esteem is made up of all the experiences and interpersonal relationships youve had in your life. Everyone youve ever met has added to or taken away from how you see yourself! Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to reconcile oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals .As a form of intelligence, self-awareness can be an understanding of one's own knowledge, attitudes, and opinions

Self-Awareness Theory states that when we focus our attention on ourselves, we evaluate and compare our current behavior to our internal standards and values. We become self-conscious as objective evaluators of ourselves. However self-awareness is not to be confused with selfconsciousness. Various emotional states are intensified by selfawareness. However, some people may seek to increase their selfawareness through these outlets. People are more likely to align their behavior with their standards when made self-aware. People will be negatively affected if they don't live up to their personal standards. Various environmental cues and situations induce awareness of the self, such as mirrors, an audience, or being videotaped or recorded. These cues also increase accuracy of personal memory

Why Develop Self Awareness?

As you develop self awareness you are able to make changes in the thoughts and interpretations you make in your mind. Changing the interpretations in your mind allows you to change your emotions. Self awareness is one of the attributes of Emotional Intelligence and an important factor in achieving success.Self awareness is the first step in creating what you want and mastering your. Where you focus your attention, your emotions, reactions, personality and behavior determine where you go in life.
Having self awareness allows you to see where your thoughts and emotions are taking you. It also allows you to see the controls of your emotions, behavior, and personality so you can make changes you want. Until you are aware in the moment of the controls to your thoughts, emotions, words, and behavior, you will have difficulty making changes in the direction of your life

Self Awareness is having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions. Self Awareness allows you to understand other people, how they perceive you, your attitude and your responses to them in the moment. We might quickly assume that we are self aware, but it is helpful to have a relative scale for awareness. If you have ever been in an auto accident you may have experienced everything happening in slow motion and noticing details of your thought process and the event. This is a state if heightened awareness. With practice we can learn to engage these types of heightened states and see new opportunities for interpretations in our thoughts, emotions, and conversations.

Self Awareness in Relationships

Relationships are easy until there is emotional turmoil. This is the same whether you are at work or in your personal life.

When you can change the interpretation in your mind of what you think you can change your emotions and shift the emotional quality of your relationships. When you can change the emotions in your relationships you open up entirely new possibilities your life.
Having a clear understanding of your thought and, behavior patterns helps you understand other people. This ability to empathize facilitates better personal and professional relationships.

Develop Self Awareness

Self awareness is developed through practices in focusing your attention on the details of your personality and behavior.

Think of learning to be mindful and self aware as learning to dance. When learning to dance we have to pay attention to how and where our feet move, our hands and body motion, what our partner is doing, music, beat, floor space, and other dancers. Self awareness is also learned in the same manner over a period of time.

MASLOWS THEORY OF SELF ACTUALIZATION

Maslow believed that these needs are similar to instincts and play a major role in motivating behavior and reach highest level of self awareness/actualization .Physiological, security, social, and esteem needs are deficiency needs (also known as D-needs), meaning that these needs arise due to deprivation. Satisfying these lower-level needs is important in order to avoid unpleasant feelings or consequences. Maslow termed the highest-level of the pyramid as growth needs (also known as being needs or B-needs). Growth needs do not stem from a lack of something, but rather from a desire to grow as a person.

The basic physiological needs are probably fairly apparent these include the things that are vital to our survival. Some examples of the physiological needs include: Food Water Breathing Homeostatis In addition to the basic requirements of nutrition, air and temperature regulation, the physiological needs also include such things as shelter and clothing. Sexual reproduction is also included in this level of the hierarchy of needs since it is essential to the survival and propagation of the species.

Security and Safety Needs

As we move up to the second level of Maslows hierarchy of needs, the requirements start to become a bit more complex. In this level, the needs for security and safety become primary. People want to control and order in their lives, so this need for safety and security contributes largely to behaviors.

Some of the basic security and safety needs include: Financial security Heath and wellness Safety against accidents and injury Finding a steady job, obtaining health insurance, contributing money to a savings account and moving into a safer neighborhood are all examples of actions motivated by the security and safety needs. Together, the safety and psychological levels of the hierarchy make up what is often referred to as the basic needs.

The social needs in Maslows hierarchy include such things as love, acceptance and belonging. At this level, the need for emotional relationships drives human behavior. Some of the things that satisfy this need include: Friendships Romantic attachments Family Social groups Community groups Churches and religious organizations In order to avoid problems such as loneliness, depression and anxiety, it is important for people to feel loved and accepted by other people. Personal relationships with friends, family and lovers play an important role, as does involvement in other groups that might include religious groups, sports teams, book clubs and other group activities.

At the fourth level in Maslows hierarchy is the need for appreciation and respect. When the needs at the bottom three levels have been satisfied, the esteem needs begin to play a more prominent role in motivating behavior. In addition to the need for feelings of accomplishment and prestige, the esteem needs include such things as self-esteem and personal worth. People need to feel valued and by others as well as having a sense of making a contribution to the world. Participation in professional activities, academic accomplishments, athletic or team participation and personal hobbies can all play a role in fulfilling the esteem needs. People who are able to satisfy the esteem needs by achieving good self-esteem and the recognition of others tend to feel confident in their abilities. Those who lack self-esteem and the respect of others can develop feelings of inferiority. Together, the esteem and social levels make up what is known as the psychological needs of the hierarchy.

At the very peak of Maslows hierarchy are the self-actualization needs. What a man can be, he must be, Maslow explained, referring to the need people have to achieve their full potential as human beings. According to Maslows definition of self-actualization: It may be loosely described as the full use and exploitation of talents, capabilities, potentialities, etc. Such people seem to be fulfilling themselves and to be doing the best that they are capable of doingThey are people who have developed or are developing to the full stature of which they capable.

Effects of High Self Esteem

People with high self-esteem possess the following characteristics: -They like to meet new people. -They dont worry about how others will judge them. -They have the courage to express themselves. -Their lives are enriched with each new encounter. -They are nicer to be around.

-Their ideas are met with interest because others want to hear what they have to say.
-They are magnets to positive opportunities. People with high self-esteem have an I think I can attitude!

Effects of Low Self Esteem

People with low self-esteem possess the following characteristics: -They dont believe in themselves. -They see themselves failing before they begin. -They have a hard time forgiving their mistakes and make themselves pay the price forever. -They believe they can never be as good as they should be or as others.

-They are afraid to show their creativity because they will be ridiculed.
-They are dissatisfied with their lives.

-They spend most of their time alone.

-They complain and criticize. -They worry about everything and do nothing. People with low self-esteem have an I cant do it attitude.

Tips for improving your self esteem

-Forgive yourself for past mistakes.

-Focus on your positive attributes.

-Follow the example of successful people. -Exhibit a good attitude. -Practice your talents. -Become physically fit.

-Learn new things.

-Improve your personal relationships.

-Take time to do things you enjoy

-Set and achieve goals.

-Do something challenging each day.

-Use criticism constructively.

-Reward yourself often.

-Get something done that you have been putting off.

-Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself.
-Learn something new.

POINTS TO REMEMBER
Self-esteem comes from every experience of your life.

How you view yourself affects everything you do in life.

High self-esteem gives you a GOOD feeling about yourself. Low self-esteem distorts your view of yourself. Self-esteem can me improved!