Building Self-Esteem Through Goal Setting
Have you ever noticed that when your self-esteem is low, so is your motivation? Making plans is challenging when you lack confidence. You may not want to go out publicly or feel despair and shame. Your self-esteem can affect every aspect of your life. Building self-esteem is possible through the power of goal setting. But what exactly is self-esteem? What is self-esteem? Self-esteem is how you perceive yourself. We often base our beliefs about ourselves on past performances or experiences or because of what someone has said about us. Rarely, do we see ourselves the way God sees us, as capable, inspiring, and loved. Whether you have high or low self-esteem is based on three factors from Maslow’s Hierarchy: If your physiological needs are met, like water, food, and clothing. If you feel safe and secure, such as shelter and employment. If you feel loved and accepted, you have a sense of belonging. These factors are known as levels in Maslow’s hierarchy, which is depicted as a pyramid with basic needs as the largest level across the bottom. After meeting these three levels, you can begin building self-esteem and confidence through achievements and recognition. Self-esteem includes respect, resiliency, courage, and confidence. It is how you see yourself. Why is building self-esteem critical? To reach a level of self-actualization, you need to raise your self-esteem. Your current level of self-esteem also predicts how well you will do in a career, academics, and relationships. It can also predict whether you are more likely to have issues in those areas or trouble with the law. Low self-esteem can also lead to risky behaviors like drinking too much alcohol, drug abuse, and eating disorders. You will never reach your full potential if you struggle with self-esteem (or any basic levels). Now is the [...]
