Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Self Worth is NOT Self Esteem




Self-worth and self-esteem are often used as synonyms, however they are not. What is the difference between them? In simple terms, self-worth comes from the inside while self-esteem comes from the outside.

First, let's look at self-esteem.  When we think well of someone, we hold them in esteem. This is based on performances we have seen, experienced, or heard about them.  When this is about us, we say we have a very favorable or high regard for ourselves and/or what we have done based on criteria evaluated or measured by a set of standards.  The sources come from outside ourselves and determined by others.  In order to maintain high self-esteem, we have to continue to perform in such a way to maintain or build to meet those expectations.  What happens when we don't do that or are not able to do that?   

What is self worth?  It is the sense of our own value or worth.  It is how we value and believe in ourselves. It comes from inside of us and is not dependent upon evaluations or measurements outside of ourselves.  It is our sense of our own value and worth based on our self-awareness, what and who we really are with our strengths, weaknesses, and potentialities.  It is how we accept ourselves in these areas, and our ability to love ourselves in this awareness and acceptance.  

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