SELF-ESTEEM

Self-Esteem Defined Self- Esteem is defined as the confidence and worth that you feel about yourself. Your level of self-esteem can directly affect your physical, mental and social health. Self worth is how you value yourself.

External Messages Messages that come from outside yourself. Many people base their self-esteem on external factors like: Looks How they perform How others see them Who their friends are In reality, true self-esteem comes from knowing and accepting who you are.

Internal Messages Messages about who you are that come from inside yourself. Gut feeling When you feel comfortable about a decision Remember you know your self the best. Trust your inner voice.

Signs of High Self-Esteem If you have high self-esteem, you feel competent in some areas and are willing to learn and try new things in other areas. People with high self-esteem have some of these traits: Willing to take chances Able to accept failures They have healthful relationships Look for people who respect them and are respected back Respect differences in others

Signs of Low Self - Esteem People with low self-esteem tend to let others influence them in negative ways. Some examples are: Drop out of school Have sex too early in life – get pregnant – STD’s Use alcohol and tobacco and drugs Engage in violent behavior Tend to brag Bully or threaten others they see are weaker than themselves Are not tolerant of the differences in others

What you can do to improve your self-esteem Assist others when appropriate Find something you enjoy doing Aim for improvement, not perfection Surround yourself with high self-esteem people Learn from your mistakes Reject negative feedback Spend equal time looking at your strengths and weaknesses Give yourself credit for all of your accomplishments Continue to improve your mind Set some realistic, achievable goals and work toward them

Goal Setting A goal is something you aim for that takes planning and work. The following is an example of how to set a goal: 1. Select one goal you want to work toward 2. List what you need to do to reach your goal 3. Identify others who can help and support you 4. Give yourself a time period to reach your goal 5. Build in several check points to evaluate how you are doing 6. Reward yourself when you reach your goal