Self-Esteem
Why is Self-Esteem Important?
Self-esteem refers to how you view yourself, your value, and your importance to others. Many people of faith are afraid of pride and equate humility with low self-esteem. Increasing your self-esteem doesn't mean resorting to arrogance but simply coming to a place where you accept yourself with all your flaws and shortcomings. For people of faith, it means connecting with an all-loving God and learning to also show unconditional love toward oneself.
What Causes Low Self-Esteem?
Low self-esteem is often caused by one's upbringing and things that may have happened to them when they were younger. If someone grew up in a family that didn't fully accept them, or had parents who had very high expectations, or were bullied by peers, one can learn to internalize those messages and become self-critical. This “inner critic” becomes like an internal Pharisee that makes a person feel like they never can measure up. This is an old way of coping that may have helped them survive as a child or teen, but begins to interfere with their ability to thrive as an adult.
Working with a counselor can help you address these negative thoughts about yourself and discover self-acceptance and self-worth. Often, low self-esteem accompanies other issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship problems. If you are a person of faith, working with a counselor who provides faith-based counseling can help you increase your self-esteem by learning more about yourself, your gifts, and focusing on God's grace and unconditional love toward you.
Self-esteem refers to how you view yourself, your value, and your importance to others. Many people of faith are afraid of pride and equate humility with low self-esteem. Increasing your self-esteem doesn't mean resorting to arrogance but simply coming to a place where you accept yourself with all your flaws and shortcomings. For people of faith, it means connecting with an all-loving God and learning to also show unconditional love toward oneself.
What Causes Low Self-Esteem?
Low self-esteem is often caused by one's upbringing and things that may have happened to them when they were younger. If someone grew up in a family that didn't fully accept them, or had parents who had very high expectations, or were bullied by peers, one can learn to internalize those messages and become self-critical. This “inner critic” becomes like an internal Pharisee that makes a person feel like they never can measure up. This is an old way of coping that may have helped them survive as a child or teen, but begins to interfere with their ability to thrive as an adult.
Working with a counselor can help you address these negative thoughts about yourself and discover self-acceptance and self-worth. Often, low self-esteem accompanies other issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationship problems. If you are a person of faith, working with a counselor who provides faith-based counseling can help you increase your self-esteem by learning more about yourself, your gifts, and focusing on God's grace and unconditional love toward you.
