BUILD SELF ESTEEM AND SELF CONFIDENCE. What's the difference? (EPISODE 11)

Imagine standing in front of a mirror, studying the person reflected back at you. What do you see? More importantly, how do you feel? Today, we're exploring the complex terrain of self esteem and self confidence. Picture a mighty tree. The branches of the tree represent your self confidence. They are more visible, reaching out into the world. This is your belief in your abilities to handle tasks, to overcome challenges, to succeed. It's external. It's about how you present yourself to the world. Now your self esteem is like the roots of the tree, hidden beneath the surface. It's your internal perception of your own worth, the value you assign to yourself. So, while self esteem and self confidence are both parts of the same tree, They serve different roles. One reaches out and grows. The other grounds and nourishes. So, you see, self esteem and self confidence, while intertwined, are quite distinct. And it's crucial to understand this difference for your personal growth journey. Unraveling the science behind self esteem and self confidence, let's dive into some interesting research findings. Our first stop is a fascinating study team from 2018. According to their research, self esteem, which is our overall sense of worth and value, isn't a stagnant entity. It evolves and changes throughout our lives. From adolescence to old age, our self esteem follows a U shaped curve, dipping during the midlife period, and then picking up again. This shows us that Self esteem is not set in stone, but rather something that we can influence and shape throughout our journey. Now, let's switch gears and discuss self confidence. This is where Bandura's self efficacy theory comes into play. Self confidence, unlike self esteem, is tied directly to our belief in our abilities to succeed in specific situations. Bandura posits that our self confidence can be developed and bolstered through repeated success and mastery of skills. It's like a muscle that strengthens with exercise. Each success, no matter how small, is a weight lifted, toning this muscle, making us more confident in our abilities. So, in essence, while self esteem is about our overall worth, self confidence relates to our competence in specific areas. One is a broad self view, the other a targeted belief. Remember, knowledge is power. Understanding these scientific facts arms us with the tools to take control of our self esteem and self confidence. Now that we've understood the science, let's equip ourselves with actionable steps to boost our self esteem and self confidence. First on the list is the power of affirmations. A study by Brinall et al. in 2017 found that self affirmations can significantly improve self esteem. But what does this mean for you? Well, it's simple. Start your day by stating positive affirmations to yourself. You could say things like, I am capable, I am resilient, or I am worthy. Speak them out loud, write them down. Repeat them. The key is to internalize these messages, allowing them to replace any negative self talk. Next, let's talk about mastering a new skill. According to Bandura's theory of self efficacy, learning and mastering a new skill can greatly boost your self confidence. It could be anything from learning a new language, picking up a musical instrument, or even mastering a new recipe. The feeling of accomplishment that comes from learning something new can significantly elevate your belief in your abilities and in turn boost your self confidence. Our third step is Reflective Journaling. Reflective Journaling, where you write down your thoughts and feelings about your day, can yield benefits similar to those of traditional gratitude journaling. This method helps you to step back and evaluate your experience. Experiences enabling you to gain a better understanding of your emotions and behaviors. By writing down your reflections, you can start to see patterns and develop strategies to improve your self-esteem and self-confidence. So there you have it. Three Actionable science-backed steps to boost your self-esteem and self-confidence. Start with affirmations, learn a new skill and engage in reflective journaling. But remember, it's not about instant change. It's about cultivating habits that over time will help you see yourself in a more positive light. Remember, the journey to boosting self esteem and self confidence is not a sprint. It's a marathon, and you've just taken the first step. So are you ready to embark on this transformative journey? We've delved into the nuances of self esteem and self confidence and offered actionable steps to bolster them. Remember, self esteem is your intrinsic value, your self worth, while self confidence is faith in your abilities. To enhance these, practice self compassion, challenge negative thinking, and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. It's time to take that first brave step on your self improvement journey. The path to self growth is paved with self esteem and self confidence. So start today, because the most important project you'll ever work on is you.