What is Self-Esteem?

Self-esteem is something we all experience, but have you ever noticed how it seems to go up and down like a rollercoaster? One day, you feel confident and accomplished—then suddenly, self-doubt creeps in, and you feel like a failure. Why does this happen?

At the heart of self-esteem are core beliefs—the deeply held views we have about ourselves and the world.

What Are Core Beliefs?

Core beliefs shape how we see ourselves, what we think we’re good at, what we struggle with, and how we believe others perceive us. Some core beliefs are helpful—they lift us up and give us confidence, such as:

✔ I am good enough.

✔ I am likeable.

✔ I am capable.

✔ I deserve love and respect.

But we also carry unhelpful core beliefs—the ones that chip away at our confidence, such as:

✘ I am a failure.

✘ Nothing good ever happens to me.

✘ I am not good enough.

✘ Everything is my fault.

Photo by dominik hofbauer on Unsplash

How Core Beliefs Affect Your Self-Esteem

Core beliefs act like a lens, influencing how we see ourselves and our experiences. Here’s how they play out in real life:

✅ When things are going well: You complete a big project at work, and your colleagues praise your contribution. You feel proud, capable, and appreciated. Your helpful core beliefs are in the driver’s seat, reminding you that you’re skilled and valued.

❌ When things are tough: You go through a painful breakup, and on top of that, your work situation becomes uncertain. Old feelings of rejection or failure start surfacing, and suddenly, your unhelpful core beliefs take over. You feel like nothing ever works out, and self-doubt creeps in.

This emotional swing is what I call the rollercoaster of self-esteem—the highs and lows that happen when our core beliefs are triggered.

Can We Change Our Core Beliefs?

We can’t erase unhelpful core beliefs, but we can turn down the volume on them. Through CBT and self-esteem work, I’ve helped many people shift their perspective, quiet those negative thoughts, and build a steadier sense of self-worth.

If you’d like support in breaking free from the self-esteem rollercoaster, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.

I would like to invite you to sign up to my Self-Esteem Hub here

There are regular articles, podcasts about everything to do with Self-Esteem, anxiety and the art of being human! You can chat to me as well using the chat facility.

Thank you for reading.

Telephone : 07754 368541

email: mail@janewatkinscbt.co.uk

or use my contact form, here

I would invite you to join my self-esteem hub for podcasts, articles and more about how to understand and improve your self esteem, click here to join