Which is better, low self-esteem or high self-esteem

Low self-esteem and high self-esteem have their own applicable scenarios, and the key is the degree of matching with the individual's psychological state. High self-esteem can help improve stress resistance and initiative, while low self-esteem may promote self reflection and cautious decision-making. Individuals with high self-esteem typically exhibit stronger goal drive and emotional stability. These individuals tend to maintain good psychological resilience in competitive environments and recover quickly in the face of setbacks. However, excessive high self-esteem may lead to self-awareness bias, neglect of one's own shortcomings, and may exhibit a dominant tendency in team collaboration. Typical manifestations include defensive reactions to criticism, excessive optimism in estimating one's own abilities, which may affect the quality of interpersonal relationships in the long run. People with low self-esteem often have a more sensitive self-awareness ability and perform better in situations that require careful evaluation, such as risk decision-making or empathetic social interactions. However, sustained low self-esteem may trigger anxiety avoidance behavior and form a cycle of negative self actualization. Common features include excessive reliance on external evaluations, choosing opportunities below one's own ability level, and a sense of unreality towards positive feedback. Some creative work actually requires moderate self doubt to drive excellence. It is more ideal to establish a dynamic and balanced self-evaluation system, which can be adjusted through regular self-evaluation combined with feedback from trustworthy others. It is recommended to accumulate positive experiences by recording small achievements while maintaining an objective understanding of the growth field. When self-esteem levels continue to affect social functioning, cognitive-behavioral therapy can effectively improve maladaptive self-awareness patterns, and group therapy can also help establish a healthier self reference framework.