If you do not have core values and beliefs then you would keep searching for the acceptance of others and do what others expect you to do. You would be controlled by the acceptance and rejections of others. So you keep seeking respect from others instead of having self respect.
You need to focus on your shout rather than the echo you get for shout. When you focus on your shout that means you are focusing on your purpose and working in alignment of your values instead of working on what others are saying you need you to do. You would work on something that world is needed instead of what the world is forcing you to do
Your true power lies in identifying that you matter and believing that you have the inner strength to make a difference in this world . You power lies in believing that you are unique and you can package your uniqueness for the betterment of the place that you are living in. Your true power lies in identifying your talents and master them to become skills and once you master certain skill, then you have to look out how it is going to solve the problems in this world and you need to offer your skill set as a service to the world. This is the purpose, work and meaning of your life
Self esteem is your ability to stare naked at your inadequacies and weaknesses and accepting that you have certain limitations. Instead of ignoring them you work with them to improve yourself and not seek validation from others. Self esteem is not about feeling great about your strengths but self esteem is feeling strong despite the weaknesses. You have high self esteem if you can tolerate rejections and laughs from others. You have high self-esteem if you stick to what you believe and value instead of reacting to what others are saying. You need to build your self-esteem around being a learner and becoming better if you fail or do mistakes. If you build your self-esteem around being right or liked by others or what feels good or what others accept, then you need to take a look at your level of esteem. You need to build yourself esteem from your inherent strengths and weaknesses rather than keeping it a variable based on the response that you are getting from the outside world. That means you are valuing your strength and weaknesses for the way they are and willing to learn to improve and work on them not concerned about validation and approval from the outside world.
*Do read the Disclaimer