Self-Esteem vs. Confidence & How to Cultivate Both

Gina Messina, Ph.D. 07/19/2021

woman of color standing with arms folded in conference room showing confidence and positive self-esteem.

Self-Esteem vs. Confidence: What’s the Difference? Imposter syndrome is something we are all challenged with from time to time and further developing your self-esteem and confidence is critical to overcoming it. However, it is important to note that although these traits are often spoken about as if they are the same, they are actually different, and both need to be cultivated. “Esteem” is derived from the Latin aestimare, meaning “to value.” Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself and what you do; it is your sense of self-worth. It also establishes your relationships with yourself, others, and the world. Confidence comes from the Latin fidere, which literally means “to trust.” Thus, confidence is self-assurance and the ability to trust oneself; it is the capacity to…

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Categories: Leadership & Career Advancement, Skill Building & Professional Development, Wellness & Personal Growth

Tags: confidence, imposter syndrome, negative self-talk, power poses, self-esteem

Gina Messina, Ph.D.

How to Use Self-Affirmations

Do you struggle to feel sure of yourself? Do people tell you that you lack confidence? Or does negative feedback rattle your sense of self or well-being? Then learning about self-affirmation may be helpful for you. Each of us faces numerous threats to our self-worth (insults, criticism, etc…). Yet, we are often able to look past these threats and still feel good about ourselves. Researchers propose that this is because we have a psychological protection system—a system that involves a variety of automatic, defensive mental strategies that protect our self-esteem from plummeting in the face of threats (Sherman & Cohen, 2006). For example, we tend to believe that we are responsible for positive outcomes but that we are not responsible for negative outcomes. We also…

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Institute Editorial Team 01/21/2023

The Secret to Keeping It Together: Why and How to Develop a Morning Routine

We realize that not everyone on the planet is a lover of mornings. Whether you have to set an alarm each day and drag yourself out of bed, jump up at the break of dawn, or prefer staying up at night and sleeping through the mornings, everyone has their own routine. Or do they? Many people struggle with mornings to varying degrees; some wake each morning and handle it pretty well. But regardless of which type of person you are, a morning routine is important, whether that routine begins at 5 a.m. or 10 a.m. The Benefits of a Daily Morning Routine Your morning routine is the order in which you do the same basic tasks each morning. A routine might seem to give some…

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Institute Editorial Team 09/05/2022

Does Practicing Gratitude Really Work? Here’s What the Science Says

Does Practicing Gratitude Really Work? If you’ve ever done any reading in the self-help realm, you’ve probably heard this piece of advice: “Be grateful.” But does this tip have any basis in science? Does gratitude really improve our mental health? And, if so, how can we practice it effectively? Here’s everything we know about the psychology of gratitude, and how you can harness it to become a happier, healthier person. What Gratitude Really Is — and What It Isn’t Before we talk about the science behind gratitude, it’s important to define what gratitude really is. Many people express that they feel that gratitude is “toxic positivity.” You may have felt like practicing gratitude feels forced, as if you’re not allowing yourself to feel upset about…

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Institute Editorial Team 12/13/2021

4 Practical Tips to Improve Your Overall Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is when you trust your abilities and judgments while feeling secure in the qualities you possess. Having a healthy amount of self-confidence can help you be more successful in many aspects of your life. Confidence can help you achieve goals and increase motivation to go for them. Here are four practical tips to improve your overall self-confidence. 1. Be Self-Compassionate Many people tend to be harder on themselves than they are on others. Remember that you are human and a part of human nature is to be imperfect. When you experience setbacks or mistakes treating yourself with kindness reduces negative thoughts and emotions toward yourself, which can damage your self-confidence. Challenge yourself to be emotionally flexible and view situations as a bigger picture than…

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Mia Barnes 01/29/2023

Is Your Humor Deeper than a Holler?

(Before reading on, please note that the term “holler” in this article does not refer to giving a loud shout or cry. Instead, it’s a phrase that stems from my family roots in West Virginia and it means a remote road or area. Try to visualize a valley, a dirt road, and a dip in the land…) I once got stuck in a holler. It was during my early 20s and it was an experience that challenged my ability to embrace humor. Here is a moment-by-moment synopsis of the entire experience. (If you are wondering at the end if it’s all true, yep, every single detail!) When I realized that my car was stuck in a holler during a trip home from West Virginia (to…

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Jessica Headley, Ph.D., LPCC-S 09/13/2021

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