People With Exceptionally High Self-Esteem Refuse To Say 6 Phrases In Public
Jamie Saw | PexelsExtremely confident people don't need to prove it. In fact, genuine self-esteem is much quieter.
Someone with a healthy sense of self doesn't need to put themselves down to make themselves comfortable. They don't minimize their accomplishments or let bad moments throw them off. When a person has extremely high self-esteem, they'll never use self-defeating phrases.
Phases people won't ever say in public when they have very high self-esteem
1. 'I'm probably wrong, but...'
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When someone has high self-esteem, they don't feel the need to undermine their own opinions. There's nothing wrong with admitting you could be wrong and being willing to rethink your perspective.
If a person is already doubting themselves, they likely have low confidence. They're essentially apologizing for having an opinion.
But people with healthy self-esteem don't assume their thoughts are worthless. Instead, they can say what they think and still be open to others correcting them.
2. 'Sorry, I'm being so annoying'
It's easy for most people to put themselves down when they feel like they have to apologize, despite doing nothing wrong. While saying sorry is a healthy part of taking responsibility, apologizing for simply being present isn't something a confident person would ever do.
Instead of apologizing for talking too much or having an emotional reaction, they don't need to ask permission to take up space. They don't need to make themselves smaller every time they interact with others.
They can say, "Thank you for listening," instead of "I'm sorry" for having something to say. They can ask for clarification without acting embarrassed. They can express a feeling without immediately deciding that their emotions are a burden.
3. 'I hate how I look'
People with high self-esteem can dislike aspects of their appearance. But if they're having a bad hair day or feel uncomfortable in a certain outfit, they let it go.
Confidence doesn't require people to love themselves every day, but when a person is suffering from low self-esteem, they may repeatedly announce how unattractive or inadequate they feel. Soon, it becomes a routine way of seeking reassurance.
Self-assured people, on the other hand, understand that constantly criticizing themselves doesn't make them feel better. Their worth isn't dependent on looking perfect.
4. 'I don't deserve this'
For some people, it's impossible to accept a compliment. They'll immediately dismiss it and reject other good things because they don't believe they're worthy of receiving them.
They've become so accustomed to questioning their own worth that when something good happens, it's suspicious. But for people with high confidence, they can accept recognition and allow someone to do something kind for them without immediately deciding they haven't earned it.
5. 'I could never do something like that'
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It's natural to admire someone who has accomplished something impressive. But there's a difference between saying, "that's amazing" and immediately following it with, "I could never do that." The second phrase quietly reinforces a fixed view of yourself.
On the other hand, an exceptionally confident person can celebrate that achievement without using it as evidence that they're less capable. They might think about how impressive someone's feat is, and tell themselves they could try something similar one day.
They don't have to believe they're capable of everything. They just don't make a habit of believing they could never accomplish something without ever trying it first.
6. 'Everyone probably thinks I'm...'
Because confident folks don't spend every minute trying to guess if other people are judging them, they can live as their authentic selves. They don't care what other people think, and they do the work to overcome that nagging voice in their heads trying to fill them with doubt.
They understand that other people are much more focused on their own lives, so instead of constantly worrying about others' opinions, they bring their attention back to what they know.
If they made a mistake or said something awkward, they realize that those things automatically mean everyone is judging them. That ability to tolerate uncertainty is a powerful form of confidence.
MeShanda Deason is a writer with a BFA in Creative Writing from Stephen F. Austin State University and minors in Business Communication and Literature. She covers storytelling, culture, identity, and human connection across editorial, journalism, and marketing spaces.
