Self-esteem has a lot of definitions but essentially what all these definitions seem to agree on is that a high sense of self-esteem imbues us with the confidence and knowledge that we are capable of handling whatever we face in life. High self-esteem is related in a great depth to feelings of self-worth as well as a deeper understanding of our abilities and strengths. A person with a high degree of self-esteem is one that is confident with their abilities and can handle stress and other related problems effectively. These people can get out of any rut quickly and are quick to face challenges and solve the problems that life presents them with.Low self-esteem sufferers on the other hand suffer from something else. They often have a very negative way of looking at life and their person, they shy away from anything new and unknown because they feel they lack the strength to overcome any new challenges. They spend a lot of their energy creating false images and worry a lot and are overtly bothered by criticism.

Self-esteem is largely related to how we feel about what we can do and who we are. It can affect everything from our attitudes in life to our drive to succeed and how we relate with other people around us. Self-esteem start when we are young and carries on with us till we reach old age. When we are young and try to succeed at various endeavors whether these endeavors are academic or otherwise, constant criticism may lead to a sense of low self-esteem, praise on the other hand whether these children succeed or not is often always related to a higher sense of self-esteem. Parents should be aware of this whenever they scold their children or deal with them in any way. A healthy sense of self-esteem in a child is the responsibility of the parents to foster and engender.

Self-esteem tends to vary in different degrees as we grow older in life and overcome newer obstacles. Teenagers are often prone to a higher degree of fluctuation in their sense of self-esteem than anyone else. These teenagers worry about their bodies, the world in general and their personalities as well. They will often try to establish their identities and cope with the harsh realities of life.Adults as well tend to experience different periods where they suffer from a sense of low self-esteem especially with different problems and situations they are incapable of surmounting. Some of these problems come with the birth of a new child and their inability to understand what this phase of life entails. In such challenges it is necessary to accept your limitations and seek help where necessary.

An overt sense of self-esteem can lead to arrogance on the part of the person with such issues. These people are often the ones who believe they are never wrong and everyone else is. People who suffer from low self esteem often have problems relating to challenges in life and tend to find themselves rooted in unsatisfactory jobs or relationships because they lack it within themselves to move on in life.

In order to be all that you can be and become a better more functional person, you have to take a look at your personal situation and remedy any areas where you feel you may be lacking in terms of self-esteem.

Darren Williger writes for www.beemotivated.com, www.beeyourself.com, and www.singlefather.com