What Self-Esteem Is
Self-esteem is an internalization of how others felt about us during our formative years. It's a reflection of the esteem in which we were held by those around us. It's influenced by what others expected from us in childhood and what the past brought us. Positive self-esteem indicates that others found us valuable and believed in our abilities. Negative self-esteem suggests that others didn't find us good enough or constantly accused us of wrongdoing.