What is the difference between Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence? Are they two different terms for the same concept? Not at all! It is possible to have lots of Self-Confidence and very little Self-Esteem and vice versa. Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence are two separate things and people often get confused when trying to differentiate between these two terms. You will be happier and more successful if you cultivate both of these qualities so let’s talk about how these two things relate to each other, how they differ, and what you can do to build both your Self-Esteem and your Self-Confidence.
What is Self-Confidence?
1. Self-Confidence depends on the situation. It is the amount of trust that you have in yourself to do a certain thing or perform a certain task. You can have lots of Self-Confidence regarding your ability to do to play tennis while simultaneously having zero Self-Confidence in your ability to play piano.
2. Self-Confidence is built through accomplishments. Because Self-Confidence is the result of preparation that leads to success, you can easily build your Self-Confidence by putting in the work. For example, if you make time to study and prepare for a test, you will be confidence in your ability to pass that test. And when you pass that test, you’re Self-Confidence in that area will increase and so on and so forth.
How is Self-Esteem different from Self-Confidence?
1. Self-Esteem is your impression of yourself regardless of your situation. Self-esteem is directly connected to self-love. It is how much you love yourself in general. You can be a very successful person but suffer from low Self-Esteem. For example, you may run a successful business but not feel worthy of your accomplishments.
2. Achievements cannot build Self-esteem. While having a room full of awards and trophies can do wonders for your Self-Confidence, it will do very little for your self-esteem. Just because you are great at something does not mean you are valuing yourself overall.
What do Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence have in common?
Building both Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence takes consistency.
If you want to be confident at doing something, make some time each day to practice until you’re consistently successful. For example, if you struggle with public speaking, dedicate yourself to practicing your public speaking skills each day and you will become increasingly more comfortable with giving speeches and in turn, your Self-Confidence in that area will increase with each speech you give.
The same goes for Self-Esteem but instead of practicing a skill, you are practicing Self-Love and Self-Care. One way to do this is by managing your Self-Talk. If you are a person who puts yourself down and insults yourself, it is going to be tough to feel good about yourself, regardless of what you accomplish. And while you cannot silence your inner voice, you can certainly manage it. Pay attention each day to your inner voice and stop yourself when you notice negative Self-Talk. Practice taking those negative thoughts and turning them into positive ones. For example, if you hear yourself say, “I can’t do this,” stop yourself immediately and say, “I am capable of figuring this out.”
When working on your Self-Esteem and your Self-Confidence, remember that perfection is not the goal. Rather, the goal is to show up for yourself each day and put forth your best effort because you are worth it!
