Self-esteem
"I have missed 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot...and I missed. I have failed over and over again in my life. And that's precisely why I succeed."
— Michael Jordan
Did you know that even the most accomplished people have times of low self-esteem?
- Walt Disney was fired by the editor of a newspaper as he had 'no good ideas'.
- Michael Jordan was once cut from his high school basketball team because of his 'lack of skill'.
- Steven Spielberg dropped out of high school. He was persuaded to come back but was placed in a 'learning disabled' class. He lasted a month then dropped out of school forever.
- Charles Darwin's father told him he would amount to nothing and would be a disgrace to himself and his family.
- Albert Einstein was 4 years old before he spoke. He was advised to drop out of high school and his teachers told him he would never amount to much.
What is self-esteem?
Self-esteem is about how you feel, and the thoughts you have, about yourself. If you were asked to write a list of all the ways you would describe yourself, what would you say?
People with healthy self-esteem:
- generally feel good about themselves and their accomplishments
- have pride in the things they do well
- can put into perspective the areas that they are not so pleased with
- feel more confident to try new things and challenge themselves
- are not frightened of failure.
People with low or unhealthy self-esteem will:
- focus more on their perceived faults, failures and lack of success in their lives
- overlook their successes or minimise the areas of their lives where they have achieved great things
- be more hesitant to try new things or meet new people, for example, starting a new job or beginning university, or going out socially.
Improving my self-esteem
Getting to know yourself and having a good look at all the things you like and don't like, are good at and not so good at, and accepting all of these, can help improve your self-esteem. This is a great start towards feeling happy with yourself and where you are right now.
Other things that can help include:
- celebrating your successes
- surrounding yourself with good friends
- being a good friend yourself
- doing what you love
- trying new things
- being able to walk away
- enjoying special times
- accepting yourself for who you are
- working out what is really worth caring about.
Kids Helpline can help you find ways to improve your self-esteem.
Depression and anxiety quiz
Complete an online health check to get a better idea if you or someone you know has symptoms of depression.
Time: 5 mins
MoodGYM
The MoodGYM training program helps you to overcome negative emotions and improve your coping skills.
Time: 15 mins
Getting help
Creating and maintaining healthy self-esteem is up to you, but there are people and resources to help you along the way.
The following websites have some helpful information on developing self-esteem:
If you need to speak with someone about self-esteem you can phone Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or use their web counselling or email counselling services.
