Does self-esteem matter to you?

I can hear many of you say ‘yes’. But is self-esteem all that matters?

Let me give you an example. You are having a bad day and nothing is going right. You decide to prop up your self with some good comments about how you are so ‘special’. You immediately feel good and carry on with your day. Then you meet with a person you have been having difficulty with. He or she says something and you become more upset and the next period of time is not your favorite experience.

Let me suggest this counter-cultural idea in an example. You are having a bad day and nothing is going right. You decide to prop up your thoughts with some insightful thoughts about how the challenging people in your life have been put there to help you grow and develop as a person. Wouldn’t you feel better and begin to look at the people in your life in a different way? Then you meet with a person you are having difficulty with. He or she says something and you pause for a few seconds and recall about why they’ve been placed in your life. You feel differently.

What do you suppose the reason for your change in attitude is?

Is it because you’ve changed your attitude about people?

Is it because you’ve changed your attitude about events?

Isn’t this a better way to live life and grow as a person?