These two terms are often used to transmit the same idea about self, but in fact there are two different aspects. Self-confidence refers mostly to trust, whilst self-esteem refers to the opinion we have about ourselves. One of them can be at a high level, whilst the other one on a low level.
For example, let’s say we’re looking to buy a new car. There are four possible combinations. We can think we can buy one and we think we deserve one (in this case, we have high self-confidence and high self-esteem); we think we can’t buy one, but we think we deserve one (low self-confidence and high self-esteem); we think we can buy one, but do don’t think we deserve a new car (high self-confidence and low self-esteem) and finally, we think we cannot buy a new car and we also think we don’t deserve a new car (in this case, we have a low self-confidence and a low self-esteem).
From my example, the last scenario is the hardest to overcome. When we think we cannot do something (low self-confidence) and we also think we don’t deserve that something (low self-esteem), we would find very difficult to go after that thing. The self-confidence is easier to be built compared to self-esteem, the last one being deeply rooted in our past. Self-confidence is linked to our fears so we can overcome it by searching deep down and finding the courage we need to do stuff. The self-esteem needs much more than that. When we have a bad opinion about ourselves, we won’t have enough energy to do anything because we don’t think we deserve it so this will lead to putting little effort. We’re just sabotaging ourselves to get where we think we deserve to be.
What do you need more of? Self-confidence or self-esteem?