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What is the difference between self confidence and self esteem?

8 Answers
Last Updated: 02/02/2023 at 6:29am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Polly Letsch, LCSW

Clinical Social Work/Therapist

I provide non-judgmental, person-centered, objective therapeutic treatment for individuals of all ages to improve social, emotional, mental and other areas of functioning.

Top Rated Answers
sereneFriend42
December 4th, 2016 3:52am
i believe that self confidence is trusting in ones abilities, and self esteem is believing in ones worth as a human being.
Amphios
July 4th, 2017 4:24pm
The terms self-esteem and self-confidence are often used interchangeably when referring to how you feel about yourself. Although they are very similar, they are two different concepts. Self-confidence is ‘could you do it’, and Self-esteem is ‘should you do it’. Or, rephrased, respectively: ‘am I capable of it’, AND ‘do I deserve it’.
freshHug78
November 14th, 2017 5:08am
Self-confidence is believing that you can do it while self-esteem is having a positive self-image.For example,i might be confident that i am ready for my exams but i don't believe that i am a good person.
Anonymous
July 31st, 2017 3:40pm
Self-esteem is how the person may feel about themselves, whereas self confidence focuses more on how the person may feel about their abilities. Having high self esteem does not necessarily mean having a high self confidence, and vice versa.
Anonymous
July 16th, 2018 11:51am
Self esteem if what you think about yourself and self confidence is where you trust you abilities, qualities, and judgement etc.
Anonymous
May 5th, 2020 5:44pm
Self-esteem refers to how you feel about yourself overall; how much esteem, positive regard or self-love you have. ... Self-confidence is how you feel about your abilities and can vary from situation to situation. I may have healthy self-esteem, but low confidence about situations involving math (this is true). Self-esteem refers to how we generally feel about ourselves: how much we like or love ourselves, and the overall image we have about who we are — positive or negative. It is shaped by our experiences and the environments we grow up in, by our family members, our school, and our community. Self-confidence relates to how we feel about our abilities and how capable we see ourselves of doing certain things or handling different situations. Is it possible to have one without the other? The answer is yes, and self-confidence can vary depending on the situation
JustAnotherPersonOn7Cups
September 19th, 2017 8:10am
Self-confidence can be almost considered close to self-efficacy (the self-assurance in one's personal judgment, ability, power, etc) while self-esteem seems relates to the self-assurance in one's personal worth based on their self-efficacy at a given task.
YourCaringConfidant
February 2nd, 2023 6:29am
Despite the fact a lot of people use these two words interchangeably, I, wholeheartedly, believe that there is a big difference between the two. Look in the mirror. Tell me what you see? Do you see someone beautiful or handsome? Do you feel good about yourself? Do you think you are deserving and worthy of all great things? Do you know that you are precious and valuable? If you answered "yes" to my questions then that is you possessing a good sense of self esteem. Self esteem is how YOU feel about yourself! You do not need others to validate you because you love self and know your worth and value. Self confidence is how you feel about the abilities you can possess. You may be confident in something that you are able and capable bodied of doing or you may be confident at completing that skill and that is a great thing... but ultimately, that's because you know what you are capable of. Just because one may have self confidence does not mean they have good self esteem because I, believe, that self esteem can change at certain points in our lives.