Esteem means respect and admiration. Hence, self-esteem would mean respect and admiration for yourself. Self-worth and self-esteem are the same thing to me, whereas self-confidence is your faith (or lack thereof) that you can do something: efficacy.

Pride is feeling proud of your accomplishments, but vanity is insisting that others hear about them, as well.

The pandemic, foreign wars, polarization, AI, demographic change, and climate change are all contributing to the diminishment of self-esteem. People feel as if they’ve lost control, need too much permission (TSA), and lack power. Pandemic approaches seemed to be more about politics than medicine. And the internet is rife with conspiracies and misinformation. 

How do we resolve this and reclaim our power and esteem?

• Be healthy. Exercise, have a reasonable diet, and get medical checkups.

• Love yourself. How can anyone else love you if you can’t love you?

• Don’t jump to conclusions and make assumptions. Find the facts.

• Don’t fret. Find ways to take action.

• Talk positively about yourself, don’t speak about your “struggles” or “fears.”

• Isolate negatives and generalize positives.

• Create a sounding board, a support system, and enlist trusted others.

• Recognize that if the cause is emotionally deep and traumatic, you probably need therapeutic help.

• Journal your accomplishments and successes.

• Practice a morning/evening ritual.

Be honest about your successes, that’s not boasting. But if you don’t recognize the talents and abilities that led to your successes, you’ll always feel like an imposter.