Many people unknowingly derive their self-worth from external validation, praise, or the opinions of others. Over time, this can impact emotional boundaries, confidence, and decision-making. Learning to recognize inherent self-worth instead of relying on outside approval is an important part of building healthier self-esteem and relationships.
How External Validation Impacts Self-Esteem
My assistant brought this Tik Tok video to my attention. She said, “This is your stuff!” It’s by author Wemi Opakunle. She shares a folklore story about an elephant who is tricked by other animals into challenging the lion as king of the jungle, and it doesn’t go well for the elephant. The other creatures shower the elephant with praise and he lets it get into his head. It’s also a story about boundaries, which I elaborate in the video.
Understanding Society-Based Esteem and Boundaries
Wemi brilliantly illustrates what happens when we begin to derive our self esteem from outside sources (Society Based Esteem). Watch the video below for the story and let me know what you think! Do you identify with seeking your self worth from outside sources and other people? Work with me to discover these sources and how to fix them, including learning how to recognize your inherent worth and build healthier emotional boundaries. I work with therapy clients in Norwood, MA as well as online!
Credit to https://www.tiktok.com/@wemiopakunle for this powerful video!