Goal Setting & Self-Esteem

Setting and achieving goals improves your self-esteem, but requires confidence. Someone with low self-esteem may lack the assertiveness required to achieve goals because she does not believe in her ability or see the importance of working towards a goal.

Setting Goals

• Project Smart promotes an easy-to-remember acronym, SMART, for setting sensible goals to augment self-esteem. SMART goals always are specific, measurable, action-oriented, reasonable and time-based.

Self-Esteem

• In "A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance," Dr. Edwin Locke's goal-setting theory proves that a well-set goal boosts self-esteem. Goals provide motivation for an individual's actions or behavior, and completed goals give him a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

Consistency

• Consistency is the key to achieving long-term benefits from goals and self-esteem building. Continually striving to reach new goals promotes inner growth and a constant state of personal improvement.

Direction

• Setting goals, especially long-term goals, ensures you stay focused and on track. Laying out a plan of action to help you achieve your long-term goals--and then following that plan--makes even lofty goals feel attainable.

Improving Self-Esteem

• The National Mental Health Information Center states that people sometimes lower their self-esteem by repeating, either verbally or mentally, negative self-criticism. Consciously making an effort to change such statements into positive affirmations of self-worth and importance will greatly improve self-esteem.