Self confidence VS self esteem

Question

What is the difference between self confidence and self esteem?

Griddler · Accepted Answer

There is not much of a difference between these two. However, I would say that you could have low self-esteem but appear self-confident.

We all know people who bluster and appear bombastic and confident in public, but who are a mass of insecurities in private.

In Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility one character said that 'I esteem him' meaning she liked and respected him. To have low self-esteem means that you don't like yourself very much, and also don't have much respect for yourself either. It is to do with your feelings about yourself.

However, having confidence is less to do with liking or respecting yourself, and more to do with being sure of your abilities to do something rather than your feelings. I am confident that I can do the job. He walked into the room with a confident air. You could see he had a lot of self-confidence in the way that he dealt with that situation.

AH020387 · Answer

Thanks

Self confidence VS self esteem

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