Why Self-Esteem Matters in Today’s Digital Age

We live in a world where information is at our fingertips in seconds. This exposes us to all kinds of information about how we should dress, what we should look like, what we should do, what we should eat, and so on. All these “shoulds” can be very dangerous to our confidence, self-worth, and self-respect. In other words, the constant exposure we endure on a daily basis affects our self-esteem.

What Is Self-Esteem?

If you want to get technical, the American Psychological Association has defined Self-Esteem as the degree to which the qualities and characteristics contained in one’s self-concept are perceived to be positive.

However, I like to be personable and relatable. So, simply put, self-esteem is how we view ourselves. Do we see ourselves in a positive light or a negative one? Are we confident in our abilities or do we second guess ourselves? The more positive you see yourself, the higher your self-esteem.

What Can Influence Your Self-Esteem?

Life is the biggest influence of our self-esteem. Are you subjected to critical feedback at home, school, or work? Have you been teased for the way you dress or the way you look? Do you have some physical limitation that has you second guessing your every move? Our daily experiences shape the way we view ourselves and ultimately affect our self-esteem.

On top of all that, we are bombarded with ads and posts on social media that have a huge impact on our self-esteem. Our digital world tends to paint an unrealistic picture of what our physical world should look like and that has a profound impact on our self-esteem.

It used to be that we would mainly compare ourselves to those around us; our friends, our family, people we go to school with, people we work with, and so on. But now, more than ever before, when we scroll through our social media feed, we are exposed to so much and we cannot possibly compare ourselves to all of it. But we try, and when we feel that our lives do not measure up to the combined experiences of all our digital friends, those feelings can have an enormous impact on our self-esteem.

So, How Do You Know If Your Self-Esteem Is Healthy?

Are you a confident person or do you often doubt yourself? Do you like yourself or are you often hard on yourself and critical of yourself? Is it easy to accept praise for a job well done or do you doubt that the praise is sincere? Do you have the ability to see your overall strengths and weaknesses or do you tend to focus solely on your weaknesses and you often feel that others are better than you?

These are just some of the questions that you can ask yourself to determine whether or not you have healthy self-esteem. Signs of healthy self-esteem include being able to accept yourself for who you are, having a positive outlook on life, being able to express your needs in life, and not allowing yourself to be defined by negative experiences.

Learn More About Self-Esteem Today’s Digital Age

Here is the great news, if you feel like your self-esteem is not where it should be, I can help! My office is located in O’Fallon, IL, about 15 miles east of St. Louis, Mo. Contact me today and together we can tackle what’s holding you back!