What are self esteem and self confidence?

Information

Self-help Resources

 

What are self esteem and self confidence?

Self esteem and self confidence refers to how we feel about ourselves.  Self esteem develops over the course of our lifetime, via messages that we have received over the years from friends, family, the media, and society, influence we think, what we value, how we behave, and how we feel about ourselves. 

Receiving messages that we are worthy and important and deserving of respect cultivates healthy self-esteem, whereas receiving messages that we are not good enough, worthless, and unimportant contribute to low self-esteem.

A concept closely related to self esteem in modern day society is that of body image as we are bombarded with information on how we should look.  This can often lead to difficulties with dieting and eating disorders, as well as self-loathing.  See our section on Food, Dieting, and Body Image for more information.

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Information

Centre for Clinical Intervention
Information sheets and worksheets on self-esteem, looking at how thought maintain low self-esteem, and what you can do to increase self-esteem and self-confidence.

Reach Out!

Dove – Campaign for Real Beauty
Check out the video “Evolution” (Dove Films) which shows the amount of work and effort that goes into the images that we see in magazines and in the media. The video “Onslaught” highlights the messages that we receive from the media and beauty industry that shape how we feel about our bodies.

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Self-help Resources

Self-paced modules or workbooks

Centre for Clinical Intervention
Contains a workbook on self-esteem, how it develops what maintains it, and what you can do to help yourself.

 

Self-help books

Self-esteem by Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning
Contains information about the development of self-esteem, how low self-esteem develops over our lifetime, and how our self-talk contributes to our self-esteem.  There are also exercises contained in this book that will help you to turn down the voice of your inner critic to help you improve the way you feel about yourself.

Embracing your Inner Critic by Hal and Sidra Stone
Embracing Your Inner Critic deals with the common sub-personality that results in self-criticism and ways to use the way this critic operates as a powerful, creative tool. The book outlines what the inner critic is as well as the role it plays in shame, depression and self esteem as well as ways the inner critic can be transformed into a positive asset.

The Six Pillars of Self Esteem by Nathaniel Branden
Discusses the role of self-esteem in our lives, the importance of self-esteem in school, at work, in society and in therapy, as well as providing guidelines for enhancing self-esteem.

Real Gorgeous by Kaz Cooke
Real gorgeous presents “the truth about body and beauty”, addressing body image issues that contribute to self-esteem, including body shapes and sizes, weight, dieting and eating disorders, the idea of “normal” where body parts are concerned, the role the media and beauty industry play in shaping our perceptions of our bodies and ourselves.

Fire with Fire: The New Female Power and how it will change the 21st Century by Naomi Wolf

Reviving Ophelia by Mary Pipher
Highlights the issues facing young women in modern day society that contribute to self-blame and low self-esteem, and lead to depression, eating disorders, and addictions.  Deals with a number of issues facing adolescent girls including developmental issues, family, dealing with separation, depression, anorexia, drugs and alcohol, sex and violence and more.  Contains real life accounts of teenage girls and puts a number of strategies forward to help in deal with various issues.

If not dieting, then what? By Rick Kausman
Discusses body image and dieting, and outlines how to develop a positive relationship with your body by demonstrating a positive approach to eating, being active, and learning about nutrition.

Manhood by Steve Biddulph
Outlines the difficulties facing men in our society, as they navigate relationships with fathers, children, women, and sex.  Explores how men can create a healthy masculinity without succumbing to outdated roles and stereotypes.

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