This may seem like an abstract subject to some, but how you view yourself is very important and we’re confused about the subject.
High self-esteem is good. Don’t let yourself doubt this, no matter who says you should think you’re a worm. (Actually earthworms are pretty important!) You need to see your good points–the aspects of yourself that are pretty good–to enable you to be able to see yourself accurately. Feeling good about certain tendencies and about your ability to make choices is a good thing.
At the same time, humble is a good place to be. Humble is one of those words we get confused about. The word can be defined as “not arrogant or proud” or “having a feeling of insignificance” and I’m talking about the first definition, not the latter. Self image is a challenging thing because it drives so much of your actions. How do you feel about yourself? Assessing yourself accurately is important because it motivates so many of your choices.
People who feel good about themselves don’t hurt others. It’s typically when you feel small or threatened that you lash out against your fellow human beings. Those who kill and main aren’t feeling their own personal power. They view themselves as having only bad choices. Striving to feel powerful by the damage you do, isn’t the path to truly feeling good about yourself. The horrible acts in this world are perpetrated by those who feel small and insignificant. They strive to find some significance in the hurting of others, but that’s not the way to gain good self-esteem.
You need to see your options–even if these aren’t always great–to realize that you’re in charge of your own choices. The great Viktor Frankl survived the German concentration camps in WWII and out of his experiences wrote Man’s Search for Meaning. He went on to earn both a M.D. and a Ph.D. and wrote eloquently about the value of choice, even when the choices don’t look good. At least, you get to decide on your direction.
Being truly humble means knowing your own strengths, as well as, your weaknesses. Feeling that you’re an okay person helps your to recognize the areas you need to develop. We all have them.
Reaching humble is a challenging personal goal. It’s a delicate balance between knowing your strong points and knowing the areas in which you could use some development.
Liking yourself isn’t a crime. It helps you be a better person.