The state of our self-esteem reflects the quality of our relationship with ourselves.

What is your relationship with yourself?
Is it one of a supportive nature?
Would you say you are as kind a friend to yourself as you are to others?
Or would you say you are your own harshest critic, unforgiving of your mistakes?
Do you constantly compare yourself to others?
Or do you frequently set unrealistic goals for yourself, only to fall short?
If you answered ``Yes`` to some or all of these questions, you might be in an abusive relationship with yourself.

We all know that mutual respect, trust, and support are essential for maintaining quality relationships among people. We’ve all experienced that when we are treated disrespectfully, we tend to feel pretty bad afterward. These same principles apply to our relationship with ourselves.

If we don’t trust ourselves, don’t treat ourselves with respect, and condemn ourselves for even minor transgressions, we are bound to feel bad—bad about ourselves—and start seeing ourselves as failures. As you know, these negative feelings are draining, making us feel unmotivated and stagnant, ultimately robbing us of opportunities to achieve our goals and dreams.

Personally, I struggled for years with low self-esteem, unable to see my own worth clearly. I would often feel an ache deep inside, like a dull weight pressing down on my chest, but I couldn’t recognize it as the pain of self-doubt. When others praised me, their words felt distant and hollow, as if they were meant for someone else. I found it hard to accept compliments or believe I deserved kindness, which only deepened the loneliness. If I couldn’t value myself, I realized, no one else truly could, and that emptiness continued to echo in my life.

Over time, I learned to recognize the thoughts and inner voices that fueled my low self-esteem, deciphering their origins and questioning their validity. With this clarity, I could finally understand and confront my self-doubt. I no longer felt paralyzed by negative thoughts or the need to hide my insecurities. This newfound confidence became especially valuable as I began to step into more challenging roles in my personal and professional life.

I would like to share with you the insights I’ve discovered, so you can:

“What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are.”

by Anthony Robbins