Self-esteem is an important element of success. It’s also an integral component of self-empowerment. Without a belief in yourself, it’s kinda difficult to accomplish your goals. Let’s explore the definitions of personal empowerment and self-esteem and then discuss how they overlap.
So – What Is Self-Esteem?
Many people feel like they intuitively know what self-esteem is. They know when they have it and when they don’t. However, it’s a bit more difficult for most people to actually define self-esteem. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines self-esteem as a feeling of having respect for yourself and your abilities.
That’s a surface definition. If you look a little deeper, self-esteem describes your sense of self-worth and value. It’s generally considered to be a personality trait that can involve your experiences and beliefs about your appearance, behaviors, emotions, and skills.
Your self-esteem runs deep into the thoughts you have about yourself daily. For example, there’s a difference between thinking, “I’ll never get this right” and “I can do this”. Self-esteem doesn’t necessarily lead to self-empowerment but it sure does help.
What Is Self-Empowerment?
To be self-empowered means that you have the strength to do something that that you believe to be in your best interests. For example, if someone asks you to join a club and you don’t want to, you are able to say no. Conversely, if you want to achieve a goal that others perhaps don’t support, you’re able to stick to your thoughts and beliefs and follow your own path.
Self-empowerment means having knowledge about your own skills and abilities and confidence in them, so that you’re able to set appropriate goals and reach your potential.
