Self-esteem, sometimes referred to as self-respect, is the belief in one's own value or skills. Low self-esteem is defined as a lack of belief in one's own worth. Self-esteem is shaped during the course of a person's life; it will rise and fall but will essentially remain constant.Your self-esteem is a product of your perceptions and experiences, and how you have been treated by life, people and circumstances. As you grow up, you build a self-image based upon your experience, beliefs and worldview, which in turn shapes your self-esteem. Your self-image or your thoughts and beliefs about you become reflected in your thinking and behaviour, which is why it is necessary to have healthy self-esteem.