Self Esteem and Perception The Heart of the Matter

Part 1

There are a wide range of factors that impact human relations. One such factor is perceptions. To a large extent, perception could be conceptualized as the way an individual interprets data. It would, however, be prudent to note that our perceptions as human beings differ. This is more so the case given that as I have already indicated above, perception has got to do with an individual’s interpretation of data. Thus, to a large extent, we cannot all interpret data in the very same manner. For this reason, it is entirely possible for Person A and Person B to be exposed to similar data but perceive the same differently, or arrive at different conclusions. In some settings, this could trigger conflict. The difference in perception could be as a consequence of factors such as culture, upbringing, educational background, etc. For instance, an engineer and a finance officer could have differing opinions regarding the cost of building a footbridge to connect one side of an upcoming campus to another. While the engineer could be more inclined towards safety (and hence probably a higher cost of building the said bridge), a finance officer could be in favor of prudence in as far as costs are concerned and could frown upon additional costs.

Conflict could also arise as a consequence of perception fuelled by access to incomplete or insufficient info. When Person A is unable to understand or comprehend the perception of Person B, this could affect relations and interactions going forward. A good example on this front would be whereby a colleague at work refuses to join other workmates at the company cafeteria during lunch break and instead opts to read a book in the privacy of his car. This could be deemed by some employees as antisocial behavior. Some could even shun such an employee and perhaps unfairly pick on him. However, such an employee could have embraced the One Meal A Day (OMAD) approach to diet for health purposes.

Part 2

There are a number of differences between self-confidence and self-esteem. In basic terms, while self-esteem has got to do with an individual’s appraisal of self, self-confidence relates to an individual’s appraisal of own capabilities. Thus, to give an example, self-esteem has got to do with the way that I view myself. This is essentially my own personal rating mechanism as a human being. On the other hand, self-confidence is largely inclined towards the trust or conviction I have about a specific circle or arena in my life. For instance, how confident am I about my abilities as a musician? Thus, self-esteem and self-confidence are not interchangeable, as many tend to believe. This is to say that I could have a low self-esteem, but still maintain high self-confidence.