People often talk about "self-esteem" and "self-confidence" together or even at times use the terms interchangeably, although they are similar, they are a little different.
The difference between the two is that self-esteem is an internal reflection of our inner sense of self-value. Life experiences and situations shape how you view yourself today and in turn, your self-esteem. On the other hand, self-confidence is the way that we experience ourselves in our general surroundings. Confidence can be developed, similar to ability, the more we do, the more our confidence will improve. It doesn't mean that individuals who have a higher level of confidence won't have low esteem or vice versa; however, it's not generally the case.
To put it in BeKeane terms, you know how to wear the right activewear that flatters your unique and individual body. You look fabulous in it, and your self-confidence in knowing what activewear suits you is a 10/10. However, that inner self-critic starts talking, and your self-esteem drops. You are wearing a pair of leggings that are perfect for your body. You are the one your friends go-to for activewear tips and styling advice. Still, you don't acknowledge your ability to make the right choice and internally you begin freaking out about what others are thinking or saying about your look. You can show self-confidence in your skills and knowledge of what to wear when being active; however, it's your self-esteem that makes you want to hide your gorgeous look from the world. Despite being self-confident, the feel-good factor is missing, and your poor self-esteem is the one taking control.
At the point when you love yourself, your confidence improves, which makes you increasingly fearless. At the point when you are sure about aspects of your life, you start to build your self-esteem. You can chip away at both simultaneously.
The language you use defines how you see, understand and take part in life—viewing life in the positive rather than negative shifts where your focus is at. Try to be more positive when you communicate with others and when you get caught up in self-talk.
Why not test yourself and see, you might just surprise yourself and get a certificate at the same time. LinkedIn, Google and many other platforms offer free online courses that provide tests and exams to measure your skills.
Setting an achievable challenge is a great way to create a sense of achievement. It might be that you are not a runner; you could set yourself the target of running a straight 5km by a specific date.
Sometimes low self-esteem and self-confidence can be due to a much more significant or more profound reason, the expert advice of a qualified, trained doctor or psychologist might be a suitable option for you.
Acknowledge and honour yourself when you need to treat yourself to some self-care. Do the things that help to make you feel comfortable in yourself; this might be eating the right types of food or getting a solid 8 hours of sleep, for others, it might be smashing out a 30min HITT workout before breakfast. Whatever helps you recharge yourself so that you have the energy to be fearless.
Through identifying your problems with self-confidence and self-esteem, the better it will be for you. You can then upskill and practice to combat a lack of confidence, or you can work on ways to address what causes your low self-esteem.
Written By:
Nicole Tattersall a BeKeane ambassador. Her background as a marketer, passion for being active, the outdoors and creativity has led her to create and curate content for some of Australia’s leading publications and brands throughout her career.
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