5 Experts Weigh in on the Importance of Self Esteem

self-esteem word cloud in outline of person

Low self-esteem is a thinking disorder in which a person believes he or she is inadequate, incompetent or unlovable.

In teens, poor self-esteem is linked to violent behavior, school dropout rates, pregnancy, and suicide.

But self-esteem doesn’t just impact the behavior of teens. Adult relationships, career choices, and actions are impacted by a person’s self-esteem.

Read on to learn about the importance of self-esteem according to 5 industry experts. 

1. Marsha Ferrick, Licensed Psychologist 

In her work as a licensed psychologist and life coach, Marsha Ferrick treats people facing emotional distress.

She feels that healthy self-esteem is vital for many areas of life including setting career goals, improving finances and making a life plan.

The importance of self-esteem can’t be overstated. It is what allows individuals to recognize their strengths and use them to their advantage. 

One of the benefits of self-esteem is that people can see the areas that need improvement. These people can then educate themselves or get help when they need it.

Marsha believes that healthy self-esteem goes hand-in-hand with self-respect and self-worth. Without self-respect, we can’t earn the respect of others, she says.

2. Dr. Sal Raichbach, Licensed Psychologist at Ambrosia Treatment Center

Dr. Sal Raichbach interacts with people suffering from addictions and mental health problems every day. The main thing he’s learned is that there is a connection between mental illness and low self-esteem.

Often, people who have poor self-esteem don’t have internal fortifications. They can’t guard against the environmental and physiological causes of mental illness.

For disorders like anxiety and depression, low self-esteem can be both a symptom and a cause. In other words, negative self-images can trigger mental health issues or make them worse.

When that happens, behavioral issues like substance abuse can quickly occur. 

Dr. Raichbach also connects healthy self-esteem with resilience. Sadly, when people with low self-esteem have mental health issues, they don’t see the value of getting help or treatment. They feel unworthy of a good life and so the symptoms get worse and worse.

The good news is that managing self-esteem is doable!  

3. Kim Olver, Licensed Professional Counselor 

Kim Olver is a certified coach, trainer, counselor, speaker, and author. Her main goal is to help people get along better with the important people in their lives, including themselves.

For her, genuine self-esteem is everything. It represents the value you see in yourself. One of the issues in our society is the way we compare ourselves to others.

Kim uses the example of a pilot and a mechanic. Both are crucial in getting passengers aboard an airplane to their destination safely. But when we compare ourselves to other people, we are comparing to an illusion.

We can only see the public, visible part of someone’s life. Maybe all we see is what that person shares on social media. It’s impossible to see the intimate details of someone else.

Kim also talks a great deal about the benefits of self-esteem. She sees self-esteem as an enabling force that allows you to stand for your values. It helps you ask for what you want, make healthy boundaries and follow your passions.

Healthy self-esteem also helps you take calculated risks with confidence, and most importantly, love the person you see in the mirror.

There’s a caveat to Kim’s philosophy on self-esteem, however. And that’s the word genuine.

Arrogance is not genuine self-esteem. And putting others down to make a person feel good about themselves is not genuine self-esteem. It’s actually poor self-esteem wearing a mask of confidence.

So what is Kim’s advice for increasing one’s genuine healthy esteem? Start by filtering out the noise from other people’s opinions. Instead, tune into your heart.  

4. Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali, Marriage and Family Therapist

Ibinye Osibodu-Onyali is adamant that self-esteem can take a big toll on your emotional and physical health.

We already talked about how poor self-esteem can lead to depression and anxiety. And Kim Olver talks about self-esteem to create boundaries.

Ibinye explains that people with low self-esteem may surround themselves with abusive people. These relationships can cause further damage to a person’s self-esteem.

Some people join gangs to find a sense of belonging. Or, they may engage in criminal behavior. 

Healthy self-esteem, on the other hand, allows you to perform better at work and in school. And helps you to foster relationships that are healthy, supportive and add value to your life. 

5. David Straub, Founder of 4Sight Model

4Sight is an emotional intelligence system aimed to help people improve their behavior. This system enables individuals to gain psychological resilience. 

David believes that the best way to improve every aspect of life is by increasing your emotional resilience.

What does this have to do with the importance of self-esteem? 

David suggests that self-esteem has two requirements: liking ourselves and valuing ourselves. 

One reason why self-esteem is important is that it determines how we see the past and perceive the present. Self-esteem impacts how we feel about the future.

Our perceptions about past, present, and future will determine our behavior. Developing positive self-esteem allows us to have the ability to act.

Poor self-esteem leads to inaction (and depression in serious cases).

Final Word on the Importance of Self-Esteem

Thanks for reading this article about the importance of self-esteem. We hope reading the words of these 5 experts helps you see the benefits of self-esteem and strive to improve yours.

Come back again soon to read more about life, health, and fitness.