Self Esteem Works Best When it Comes From Ourselves Rather than Others

Conductive self-esteem is volatile and unsustainable, but shifting our perspective can change that

Photo by Randy Jacob on Unsplash

We all want healthy and strong self-esteem, but it can be easier said than done. Our level of self-esteem reflects the value we have for ourselves. It tells the world whether we believe we belong, are likable, worthy, attractive, or intelligent. But the source of our self-esteem, whether implicit or explicit, shapes how it presents within us.

Basing our self-esteem on external factors that can change at any time means our self-worth could plunge at any moment — we could be fired, become injured, go through a breakup — and lose our sense of self in the process. But self-esteem should come from within and be based on what we do, our efforts, and whether we like ourselves.

Conductive Self-Esteem

Often, self-esteem is measured as you either have it or you don’t. Similarly, a person’s confidence level may be either high or low. But these two ends of the spectrum include less favorable outcomes.

For instance, research indicates that having low self-esteem is linked to eating disorders and, unsurprisingly, depression. Meanwhile, high self-esteem is…