<p>From children to senior citizens, self-esteem levels can fluctuate depending on situations, conditions, and needs.&nbsp; Children and teens are especially prone to low self-esteem, but adults and seniors are certainly not immune to it, either.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What is self-esteem?</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While the term is thrown around a lot, not many people understand just what self-esteem is.&nbsp; This is the term used to describe just what your overall opinion of yourself is.&nbsp; How you feel about yourself and your potential as an individual, outside of what those around you may think of feel.&nbsp; There are many things can influence self-esteem.</p> <p><strong>What are the kinds of self-esteem?</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Most people think of only low self-esteem when it comes to self-esteem in a world, but there are actually three different types to know about.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Too-low self-esteem:</strong> This is the kind that you are most familiar with, most likely.&nbsp; This is when you think lowly of yourself, so lowly that you think you are worthless, and no one likes you.&nbsp; It means you are unlikely to take chances and you think yourself incapable of achieving anything.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong>Healthy self-esteem:</strong> This is when you have a just-right view of yourself.&nbsp; You see yourself as being capable and useful, as well as capable in situations that factor-in some kind of risk (for example: asking for a promotion).&nbsp; However, you also know that you are not the best at everything and that there are always opportunities for you to learn and grow.</li> </ul> <ul> <li><strong>Too-high self-esteem: </strong>The more colloquial term for this is &ldquo;cocky&rdquo;.&nbsp; It means that you think very highly of yourself and that you can do no wrong.&nbsp; You have no issues expressing your opinions, even in situations where it may not be appropriate.&nbsp; It often means that you think you are the smartest person in the room, and you are the most deserving of a promotion or other chance that is presented.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Why self-esteem matters</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The middle option, of course, is the healthy option for your when it comes to your natural self-esteem levels.&nbsp; When someone has low self-esteem, they are likely to get walked-over, overlooked by those around then, and suffer from other conditions such as depression and anxiety.&nbsp; Someone with too-high self-esteem, on the other hand, can be demanding and controlling as well as a &ldquo;sore loser&rdquo; if or when something does not go their way.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Self-esteem is important because how you see yourself should, ideally, line up with how others who you are close to, see you.&nbsp; That would be someone who is deserving, important, whose opinions and thoughts matter, but not above reprimand.&nbsp; At the same time, self-esteem is also what allows you to stand up for yourself in a situation where you are being treated unfairly, and it makes you independent in a healthy, good way.</p> <p>Everything from family life to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, to society around us can influence self-esteem.&nbsp; It is considered normal for those levels to fluctuate throughout life, but understanding kind for what it is, and why this comprehension matters, helps keep it in the middle range as much as possible.</p>