The fear of low self esteem has fed a lot of well-meaning but completely misguided efforts in improving self esteem. After all, many people fear that some acts of violence, like bullying, result from low self esteem, or from an exploitation of other people’s low perception of their own worth.
This doesn’t mean, however, that all efforts to improve self esteem are worthless. With enough effort and support from other people, something as enduring as a person’s conception of their worth as people can be slowly changed and improved. It is important to recognize that the process of trying to improve self esteem is one that will take time and effort, and that any haphazard or half-hearted effort towards that effect can even worsen a person’s self perception.
It is important to recognize that self esteem, to begin with, is not the same as self confidence. While self confidence is more forward-looking, like a consideration of a person’s ability to do well in a future activity, self esteem is a person’s long-term perception of their worth. Integral to good self esteem is self-love, self-appreciation, and recognition of both one’s flaws and gifts. Low self esteem can contribute to one’s low levels of confidence.