Today,
I would like to discuss two important concepts that play a significant role in our well-being,
Most specifically emotional and mental,
Self-esteem and compassion.
While these two are often mentioned together,
They are quite distinct in their nature and I think in particular the impact they have on our lives.
Self-esteem,
To start with that,
It refers to the way we perceive and value ourselves.
It's our overall sense of self-worth and self-respect.
High self-esteem means we have a very positive view of oneself,
Feeling quite confident in our abilities,
We believe that we are deserving of happiness,
Health,
Success.
On the other hand,
If you have low self-esteem,
This can lead to feelings of inadequacy,
Self-doubt and a lack of confidence.
Self-esteem is often influenced by external factors such as the achievements you have,
Your social comparisons,
Feedback from others.
For example,
When you receive praise for a job you did well,
This could really boost your self-esteem.
Similarly,
While criticism or failure can diminish it,
This reliance on external validation can make self-esteem somewhat vulnerable,
Fragile,
Fluctuating.
Compassion,
In contrast,
Is about extending kindness and understanding to ourselves and others,
Especially in times of suffering or difficulty.
I would even take it a step further and say it's not only about extending kindness and understanding,
But actually taking action to solve it.
Self-compassion involves treating ourselves with the same care and concern that we would offer to a dear friend in need.
It means acknowledging that we have imperfections,
Accepting mistakes that we make,
Being gentle with ourselves when we face challenges.
Unlike self-esteem,
Compassion is not dependent on external validation.
It's an internal resource that we can nurture,
That we can cultivate,
Regardless of our achievements or our social standing.
Compassion allows us to embrace our humanity,
To recognize that everyone experiences struggles,
Setbacks.
It fosters a sense of connection and empathy both towards self and others.
One key difference between self-esteem and compassion is how they respond to failure and criticism.
When our self-esteem is high,
Again,
We feel confident and capable.
But when we encounter a failure or criticism,
Our self-esteem can really take a hit.
We might become defensive,
Self-critical,
Or even avoid challenges to protect our self-worth.
Compassion,
On the other hand,
Provides a more stable and resilient foundation,
Core.
When we approach ourselves with compassion,
We can acknowledge our mistakes without the need of having that harsh judgment.
We can learn from our experiences and grow,
Rather than be paralyzed by fear of failure.
Compassion encourages us to be patient,
Forgiving with ourselves,
And I believe this helps foster a healthier,
More sustainable sense of well-being.
Let me illustrate self-esteem versus compassion with this example.
Imagine you are preparing for an important presentation.
If you have high self-esteem,
You might feel confident and capable as you prepare.
However,
If the presentation doesn't go as planned and you receive critical feedback,
Your self-esteem might take a hit.
You might even start doubting your abilities and feel discouraged.
Now let's consider the same scenario with compassion.
You're preparing for the presentation.
You acknowledge that it's normal to feel nervous,
That everyone makes mistakes.
If the presentation goes well,
Instead of harshly criticizing yourself,
You can approach the situation with kindness.
You recognize that it's an opportunity to learn,
To grow.
You remind yourself that one presentation doesn't define my worth,
And that you can always improve.
I guess one more important distinction is that self-esteem often involves comparison with others.
You may feel good about yourself when we perceive that we are doing better than others,
But this can lead to feelings of superiority or inferiority.
Compassion,
However,
Is not about comparison.
It's about recognizing our shared humanity,
Our common humanity that we all suffer,
That we can all offer kindness without judgment.
It just takes a little practice.
So in summary,
Self-esteem and compassion are both valuable,
But they both serve different purposes.
Self-esteem is about valuing and believing in ourselves,
Often influenced by external factors.
Compassion is about treating ourselves and others with kindness and understanding,
Regardless of our achievements or failures,
And taking an active role in reducing that suffering.
By cultivating compassion,
We can create a more stable and resilient foundation for our well-being.
We can navigate life's challenges with greater ease,
With more resources,
While maintaining a sense of connection and empathy.
While self-esteem can fluctuate,
Compassion can remain a constant source of support and strength.
Thank you so much for listening.
I hope this talk about self-esteem versus compassion gives you some clarity on the differences between the two.
If you have any questions,
Comments,
I'd love to hear them.
I'd love to talk with you about them.
Enjoy the rest of the day.
Thank you.
