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What is self esteem?
By Dominique A. Rashad
We often here people talk about self esteem in themselves and in others as being either high or low. Most often, a person with high self esteem is viewed by others as being powerful, assertive, successful, and able to overcome the obstacles that life brings. Conversely, someone with low self esteem is considered weak, easily misled, needy, or unable to achieve their highest potential.
On the surface at least, there may appear to be some truth to those labels for those with high and low self esteem if we only measure self esteem by external expressions. Thus, the first step in realizing the truth about self esteem is to first know what self esteem is not. High self esteem is not the outward expression of superiority that some display almost effortlessly, and low self esteem is not the inferiority complex that others seem to carry with them wherever they go. Furthermore, belief in one’s ability is not a prerequisite of high self esteem, because self esteem is not rooted in the mind which forms the basis of our belief system.
In human beings, self esteem is not cocky, arrogant, rude, or narcissistic. Nor is it docile, fearful, meek, or easily taken advantage of. Don’t be in awed by the outward appearance of those who walk head held high, nose tilted upward, and shoulders back. Similarly, don’t pity or ridicule those who don’t look you in the eye, are indifferent, or fold under pressure. Each individual could be suffering from an inflated ego, which is a mental projection of who they think they are. True self esteem is not subject to conditions.
True self esteem does not grow when things are going well, and it does not diminish when situations in life are adverse. Self esteem is not low in those who are overweight, and high in those who are fit. It is not based on income level, status, race, sex, national origin, or the like. None of this is self esteem, but could perhaps be considered false esteem.
Instead, self esteem is the realization that the Source of all creation lives within you. Self esteem is knowing that the power to manifest all things externally if freely and equally distributed to all human beings by way of our nature. True self esteem is ever-present in you. It is eternal and timeless. And so, if you seek high self esteem you need only become conscious of the fact that there is no distinction between your physical body, and the un-manifested, infinite power of your nature. Reconnecting with the Source of your being, which is the infinite power used to create us and all other physical matter in the universe, is the first and only step to building your self esteem.
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