- Know the meaning and importance of self-regard
- Learn strategies to develop self-regard
- Know the meaning and importance of self-actualization
- Learn ways to develop self-actualization
Rishabh is 28, bright, talented in basketball, singing and robotics — but he constantly compares himself to others and feels worthless because he couldn't get his desired job. What he lacks is self-regard.
Self-regard means respecting yourself as a whole — your strengths AND your limitations. You celebrate your good aspects, but also acknowledge your weaknesses, accept them, and consciously work to improve.
- Hewitt (2009): Overall emotional evaluation of one's own worth — a judgement of and attitude toward oneself. Encompasses beliefs ("I am competent") and emotions like triumph, pride, and shame.
- Branden (1969): Self-esteem = self-confidence (sense of capacity) + self-respect (sense of personal worth).
- Mangal & Mangal (2015): An EI ability that helps: (i) awareness and evaluation of strengths/weaknesses, (ii) confidence in functioning, and (iii) respecting and valuing the self in its existing form.
| Term | Meaning | Key Question |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Concept | What you think you are — your characteristics, abilities, emotional patterns | "What am I?" |
| Self-Esteem | How you evaluate yourself — the value you assign to yourself (positive/negative) | "How good/worthy am I?" |
| Self-Regard / Self-Worth | Paying respect to yourself with full awareness of all your positive and negative qualities | "Do I value and respect myself?" |
Self-regard, self-esteem, self-respect, and self-worth are used synonymously. They differ from self-concept (which is only descriptive).
Two main aspects of self-regard:
Accepting limitations and working to improve them. Being aware of positives without arrogance or superiority.
Feeling adequate, capable, assured, and of value and significance — independent of external validation.
Pre-requisites for self-regard: Self-awareness · Accurate self-assessment · Self-confidence · Self-control
Research: Self-esteem, positive emotions, and interpersonal relationships together contribute to 50% of the variance in life satisfaction (Ruvalcaba-Romero et al., 2017).
Approach 1 — Appropriate Learning Experiences in the Developmental Period
Self-regard is acquired, not innate. It develops through parental practices, school environment, peer relationships, and neighbourhood experiences. Children need to feel accepted, listened to, and cared for. Positive feedback from significant others shapes self-regard for life.
Approach 2 — Developing the Attributes of Self-Regard
| Attribute | What It Means | How It Builds Self-Regard |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Awareness | Know your thoughts, feelings, strengths and weaknesses | Foundation — you cannot respect what you don't know |
| Self-Concept | The complete, total picture of who you are | Provides a comprehensive understanding of the self |
| Self-Acceptance | Accept yourself with an open mind — positives and negatives | Paves the way for genuine self-respect |
| Self-Control | Manage emotions to create feelings of adequacy and control | Creates a positive inner experience and confidence |
| Self-Confidence | Being at ease with yourself in your own skin | Emerges naturally from full self-acceptance |
Think of Thomas Edison's relentless experimentation, or Lata Mangeshkar singing in 36 languages across seven decades despite early hardships. Both exemplify self-actualization — the drive to fulfil one's inner potential, no matter what.
Note: Maslow's strict hierarchy has been criticised — people sometimes strive for higher needs even without meeting lower ones (e.g., great artists who created masterpieces despite poverty).
- Collins English Dictionary (2009): "The process of establishing oneself as a whole person, able to develop one's abilities and to understand oneself."
- Stein & Book (2006): "An ongoing, dynamic process of striving toward maximum development of abilities and talents, of persistently trying to do one's best."
- Mangal & Mangal (2015): "A component of EI representing one's need, urge and desire for developing and becoming what one is capable of — directed towards self-satisfaction, real happiness and success."
- Carl Rogers (1961): Describes it in the context of a "fully functioning person" who continuously works towards achieving their full potential.
- Reflects the drive to fulfil one's inner potential
- Requires persistence and resilience in the face of obstacles
- Views oneself as a whole, fully functioning person
- Emphasises being the best possible version of oneself
- Dynamic and never-ending — reaching one goal opens the path to the next level
- Goes beyond oneself — towards selflessness and service to others (transcendence)
Complete understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, aspirations, goals, hurdles, desires, and dislikes. You cannot become what you don't know you are.
Accept yourself fully — positive AND negative sides. Don't feel ashamed of limitations. Equal acceptance of all aspects creates an authentic foundation.
Without emotional self-control you cannot persist through the obstacles on the path of self-actualization. Controlling means management — not suppression.
Set goals aligned with your inner potential. Develop determination, resilience, creativity, and self-confidence to pursue them despite all obstacles.
A positive mindset attracts opportunities. Cultivate optimism and hope. Look to family, teachers, peers, and knowledge sources for inspiration.
You compete with yourself — not others. Each person is unique. Focus on growing, improving, and transforming yourself continuously. The race is within.
- Self-regard = respecting yourself as a whole — strengths AND limitations. Not arrogance; it is self-acceptance with awareness.
- Pre-requisites: self-awareness, accurate self-assessment, self-confidence, self-control.
- Self-regard ≠ self-concept (descriptive). It is synonymous with self-esteem, self-worth, self-respect.
- Strategies: appropriate early learning experiences + developing attributes (self-awareness → self-concept → self-acceptance → self-control → self-confidence).
- Self-actualization = Maslow's highest need — fulfilling everything one is capable of becoming.
- Dynamic and never-ending — reaching a goal opens the path to the next level.
- 6 steps: self-awareness → acceptance → emotional control → goal-setting → seeking opportunities → right mindset.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Self-Regard | Paying respect to oneself with full awareness of all positive and negative qualities. Synonymous with self-esteem, self-worth, and self-respect. |
| Self-Actualization | Self-fulfilment — the drive to fulfil the potentials that the individual is capable of achieving. Maslow's highest psychological need. |
| Self-Concept | The total picture of who you are — your abilities, thinking, emotional patterns, positive and negative aspects combined. |
| Self-Esteem | The evaluative component — how you assess your own value and worthiness. |
| Self-Acceptance | Accepting oneself with an open mind — both positive and negative qualities — as the foundation for self-regard. |
| Transcendence | Going beyond self-actualization — becoming selfless and engaging in service to others. Maslow's sixth need; the Mother's teaching. |