Self-esteem and Dating

I doubt your parents ever told you to choose a spouse with good self-esteem. They may have advised you to find someone who is kind, hardworking, has a lovely family, likes children, or is good with money. However, they probably didn’t mention the importance of checking their self-esteem, self-compassion, or self-confidence.

Self-esteem is a crucial quality in a partner because it indicates good emotional health and the ability to love others. Essentially, individuals can only love others as much as they love themselves. As Jesus said in Mark 12:31, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If we don’t love ourselves, it becomes difficult to love others.

So, how can you tell if someone has good self-esteem? Observe how they treat themselves and others. Do they prioritize others over themselves? Do they speak kindly to others? Do they say positive things about themselves, or do they criticize themselves? A person with good self-esteem will be realistic about others’ imperfections and understanding about their own mistakes and failures. They will not fall apart when they don’t meet their own expectations, nor be overly critical of others who fail.

A person with good self-esteem will recognize their inner strengths. They will not judge others by external standards and recognize that they are more than just their material accomplishments. They will conduct themselves with kindness and respect towards themselves and others. Their self-confidence will help them remain emotionally stable, even during life’s most difficult storms.