Have you ever wondered what the difference between self-image and self-esteem is and if they are somehow connected? Well, wonder no more! One of our wonderful Personal Leadership Program graduates, Bethany*, has unpacked the two concepts for you. Keep reading to find out why self-image is important to your mental health and what you can do to improve it.
“Self-image refers to the way you see yourself in relation to the world around you. Self-image is not the same as self-esteem. Self-esteem is how you see your worth and self-image is both how you see yourself and how you think the world sees you. Self-image can be influenced by our relationships, experiences, and environment. Having a positive self-image is important for our mental wellbeing and it can lead to an increase in confidence, better relationships, and greater success.
A lot of people know they want to achieve a positive self-image; however, they don’t work towards it as much as they think they do e.g., they bring themselves down negatively.
When we have a negative self-image, it can lead to feelings of low self-worth, anxiety, and depression. It is important to work on developing a positive self-image through self-care, positive self-talk, and surrounding yourself with supportive people.
Self-image can change over time. We can build a more positive self-image and achieve goals by focusing on our strengths. We tend to compare ourselves to people who we think are better than us, however, instead of comparing negatively, we could do it positively. We can never be satisfied if we compare what we don’t have to what people have when we know they worked hard for that too. It’s up to us to decide if we want to have a positive or negative self-image and it is up to us to work towards it.”
Can you believe Bethany is only 15 years old? We would love to take credit for how insightful she is, but we just provide young people with the tools to take positive control of their lives, how they use the tools is totally up to them.
To learn more about what our Personal Leadership Program tools can do for young people, visit https://youthopportunities.com.au/what-we-do/personal-leadership-program/
*Student name changed to protect their identity