Self Esteem vs. Self Compassion
Self esteem seems to be a challenge for us all.
We all struggle with invasive thoughts about our performance in any arena, but the workplace tends to be one that everyone can relate to. Everyone experiences stress about their performance level, quality of work, and even how well-liked they are in the office.
At the end of the day, we all logically know that most of the time, we’re overthinking it. What’s worse is that if these thoughts are pervasive enough, they can begin to actually affect our work and how we interact with others, and it’s usually in a negative way. Stress tends to breed more stress.
So how can we snap out of the low self esteem cycle? Eric Barker shares some insight on how to do just this in his article here. He says it well himself:
Life can be hard. And who is usually hardest on you? Yourself. There’s that negative voice in your head criticizing you. And sometimes you can’t shut it up.
Barker’s approach isn’t necessarily to just boost your self esteem; he thinks that first you have to boost your self compassion, and then the self esteem will come after. Having self compassion means that you aren’t so hard on yourself when you make a mistake. After all, we’re all human and all of us make, and have made, many mistakes in our lifetimes. As Barker says:
Stop lying to yourself that you’re so awesome. Instead, focus on forgiving yourself when you’re not.
Because all of us are awesome in many ways, but none of us are 100% awesome. That’s because we’re human beings. Research has shown that when you have compassion for yourself and forgive yourself when mistakes are made, you’re way more likely to bounce back quicker, because you see yourself as human too.
Image retrieved from Pixabay under the public domain.
Recent Posts
Understanding What Commitment Is
Author: Contemporaries Team The Contemporaries Team recently provided job seekers with 10 Tips for Career Success in 2025. Today, we will be focusing on Tip # 7. Understanding what commitment is. In order to continue to advance and...
Separating The Person And The Position
Author: Contemporaries Team ...
Why Certified DBE Staffing Firms Are a Smart Choice for Vendors With Government Contracts
Author: Contemporaries Team The greatest reason for partnering with a company that holds a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certification is that most federally funded government contracts require such collaboration. By...
Remaining Available on the Employer’s Schedule
Author: Contemporaries Team ...
Performing a Dress Rehearsal May Help You Land The Job!
Author: Contemporaries Team ...
Keeping Professional References Up to Date
Author: Contemporaries Team ...
Maintaining a Strong Work Ethic
Author: Contemporaries Team ...
Creating a Winning Resume
Author: Contemporaries Team Creating a Winning Resume The Contemporaries Team recently provided job seekers with 10 Tips for Career Success in 2025. Today, we will be focusing on Tip #1 - Creating and updating a quality resume. Having reviewed thousands of resumes...
Tips for Career Success in 2025
Author: Contemporaries Team Tips for Career Success in 2025 As our Boston-based staffing firm Contemporaries Inc. approaches its 27-year anniversary next month, we have seen numerous employment trends, cycles, and behaviors come and go. However, there are universal...
Artificial Intelligence May Not Be the Best Bet When It Comes to Hiring Staff
Author: Contemporaries Team Artificial Intelligence (AI) and software programs may have its advantages when it comes to weeding out unqualified candidates, but at Contemporaries, Inc. we still believe in the human touch. While companies and some staffing firms are...
In Challenging Economic Times Having a Temp Job May be the Key to a Permanent Post
Author: Contemporaries Team When the economy is booming, unemployment is usually down. Qualified candidates can write their own ticket for a plum position in the field or company of their choice. However, when the economy takes a downward turn, securing a temporary...
A Little Bit of Kindness Goes a Long Way in The Workplace
Author: Contemporaries Team Whether you are the first or last one through the door, exhibiting kindness can go a long way in terms of garnering respect, admiration, camaraderie, and reciprocity from your peers and supervisors. Individuals who are looking to get ahead...
Communication Can Be the Key to A Successful Career
Author: Contemporaries Team Have you ever noticed how well successful people are able to convey their visions, missions, and ideas? Most times, they do it flawlessly, whether it is in an intimate business meeting or a televised discussion in front of a crowd of...
Professional Accountability: A Personal Choice and Consequences
Author: Contemporaries Team Numerous of articles have been written lately stating how a large majority of young candidates do not show up for job interviews, or even make it to the first day of work. This is not a trend which has been seen in past years, particularly...