Self-esteem is your subjective sense of overall personal worth or value. Similar to self-respect, it describes your level of confidence in your abilities and attributes.
Having healthy self-esteem can influence your motivation, your mental well-being, and your overall quality of life. However, having self-esteem that is either too high or too low can be problematic. Better understanding what your unique level of self-esteem is can help you strike a balance that is just right for you.
Key elements of self-esteem include:
- Self-confidence
- Feelings of security
- Identity
- Sense of belonging
- Feeling of competence
Other terms often used interchangeably with self-esteem include self-worth, self-regard, and self-respect.