I cringe when I hear people interchange the terms self-esteem and self-confidence. It’s no wonder everyone is confused. The fact is they are two very distinctive foundations of self—and not at all the same in any instance. I want to share with you some defining differences because I believe if you understand what it is and where it comes from you can quickly learn to take a hold of it and change it more quickly to the level you’d like it to be.
Self-esteem is implanted in us at a very young age by the words that are spoon feed to us by the important adults (siblings, friends) in our young lives. If someone is constantly telling us we are beautiful and brilliant, that’s what we will believe is true about us. If we are constantly told negative things, then we will believe that to be true. As children, parents are like Gods. What they say is indisputably true. Those words we are told become our thoughts about ourselves which then turn into beliefs about ourselves. Then, our self-belief reveals itself to the world around us through the behaviors we choose to act out—good or bad. Our behaviors are the true reflection of the state of our self-esteem.
Self-confidence is not a thought. It is the result of action. Mastery and complete confidence in an area is the result of ongoing, repetitive actions that build one’s abilities in a given area. Confidence is built upon your belief (or self-esteem) that you can do a particular activity or build a specific skill.
As you work to build your abilities and mastery, it is very important that you feel certain about what, until now, has been preventing you from achieving certain goals. Do you have the self-esteem (the belief that you can do something), but just haven’t practiced enough to have mastered a certain skill? Or have you not accomplished a certain skill because of self-esteem and your belief that you just can’t do it?
Give these ideas important consideration as you move through your work!
To Your TRUE Success!
As The Entrepreneurs’ Confidence Creator, Business-Life Coach and Implementation Expert, Kathleen Aston is the authority on creating confident, courageous, successful women who strive to reach purpose-driven prosperity and leave a legacy in their lifetime. Ms. Aston’s propriety systems help women to build solid foundations of self while simultaneously building powerful foundations of business that support rapid-fire business growth, profits and success. Kathleen Aston is a highly regarded speaker, trainer and mentor for women in business. Her newest book, How to Network like a Diva, will be released in July 2011!
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