1. Constant Indecisiveness
Being indecisive is often a sign that you don't trust yourself to make the right decision. This is accompanied by doubts and insecurities. People with low self-esteem are often riddled with self-doubt. Being indecisive in many situations can indicate low self-esteem, while being indecisive in one or two situations can indicate a lack of confidence in those particular situations.
For example, if you are a new entrepreneur, you may spend more time making decisions than a more experienced entrepreneur because you are often second-guessing yourself. As you learn and develop the skills, you'll increase your confidence. So, knowledge and experience will improve confidence in individual situations.
2. Focused on outside reassurance
Self-esteem comes from your confidence, which means that you're confident in all situations and don't let other people's opinions affect you. A symptom of low self-esteem is often frequent mood swings based on the actions of others.
Again, if this only happens in a few situations, it merely indicates that you may lack confidence in those areas. However, if it is a recurring theme, it is a sign that you have low self-esteem.
For example, if you always need to be told that you look good in order to feel good about your appearance, you are likely to have low self-confidence. If you also need constant reassurance at work, in relationships and during social interactions, this is likely to be a sign of low self-esteem.
3. Hesitant to speak up
Being reluctant to speak up is another sign that you may have low self-esteem and lack confidence. It indicates an underlying doubt about what you have to say. It could mean that you are not sure if your opinion is valid, or you tell yourself that others are not interested in what you have to say. You may be afraid that speaking up will cause others to dislike you.
If you have low confidence in a particular area, you may be reluctant to speak up because you fear you do not know enough about it. If you are a new business owner attending a networking event, you may not feel confident sharing your thoughts with a 20-year veteran.
If you are constantly afraid to speak up, it is a sign that you are suffering from general low self-esteem. This can lead to negative thoughts of doubt that ultimately prevent you from speaking up.
4. Inability to take criticism
A focus on external validation and an inability to take criticism often go together in people with low self-esteem. If you need the approval of others to feel good, then hearing criticism can be devastating. For these people, criticism is always seen as a personal attack on the ego, rather than as feedback.
If you have low self-esteem, the opinions of others are valued more highly than your own self-worth, and criticism is taken as truth rather than just opinion. If you have high self-esteem, you use this criticism as helpful feedback and are able to listen to it and discard it as an untrue opinion.
5. Give up easily
Self-doubt is a major cause and symptom of low self-esteem. No one is an expert the first time they try something, and it takes perseverance and overcoming obstacles to succeed at anything. Someone with shaky self-esteem can be easily defeated when they fail the first time.
Although your confidence may feel shaky when you first start a new venture, with the right level of self-esteem you will be able to work out how to increase your confidence.
If you have low self-esteem, the shaky confidence can become overwhelming and cause you to give up in order to protect yourself from the potential consequences and discomfort of failure.
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