The article addresses the issue of motivation for self-esteem and life satisfaction in adolescents. The study has shown that the more self-esteem of adolescents is based on their own achievements, obtained through their own efforts, the greater their satisfaction with life, this kind of self-esteem is conditioned by intrinsic school motivation and by perseverance. The results also indicate that self-esteem, based on the recognition of an individual's competence by other people, depends on the level of life satisfaction and the motivation of respect from parents. The third type of selfesteem, based on obtaining self-esteem through compensatory ways, is a negative factor of adolescent perseverance and school motivation.