What is healthy self esteem?

Healthy self esteem does not imply over confidence.

People who have an OK level of self esteem are:

• confident without being overbearing
• not devastated by criticism
• not overly defensive when questioned
• active and achievement orientated without being driven
• mostly happy with themselves as they are
• not easily defeated by setbacks and obstacles

They are also:

• able to accept and learn from their own mistakes

  unlikely to feel a need to put others down
• open and assertive in communicating their needs
• self reliant and resourceful without refusing help
• not overly worried about failing or looking foolish
• not harshly or destructively critical of themselves
• not aggressively driven to prove themselves - people with normal self esteem are happy with themselves as they are
• able to laugh at themselves, not taking themselves too seriously

• Is your self esteem low? - quiz
• What is self esteem?
• What is low self esteem like?
• I don't like myself! New!
• What is healthy self esteem like?
• Self esteem and happiness
• Are you a Humpty Dumpty?
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• Whose standards?
• How to talk to yourself
• Celebrate your strengths
• Self esteem and assertiveness
• Get feedback from others
• Don't like how you look?
• Finding fault with everything?
• Contemplating suicide?