Is Self-Esteem A Birthright?

Some well meaning people in your life may have tried to teach you that self-esteem is a birthright, something we have only to claim by repeating affirmations or mantras. Others may believe that self-esteem is a gift that parents or others give children by telling them how much they are loved and affirming how great they are. These beliefs are based on half truths, and as such are non-productive.

While it is true that we all have inherent worth and unlimited potential as children of God, that potential must be brought forth from the realm of unrealized potential to the realm of actual reality through individual choices. While it is true that parents and others can have an impact on a child’s self-esteem, self-esteem cannot ultimately be given to you by anyone but your Self- it must be earned and maintained through individual choices. Just as the health of the body requires the building blocks of health- good inputs and habits in the form of nutrition and exercise, so the health of the mind (self-esteem) requires the basic building blocks outlined above. The right use of consciousness is not hard-wired in to us, it does not come automatically. Rather there are conflicting tendencies of selfishness (from the self) and selflessness (from the Self) and the ever present element of individual choice connected with individual responsibility.

I see both a healthy body and a healthy mind as major life-long accomplishments against the ever present forces of entropy (dis-order). But just like it is harder to get from being out of shape to being in shape than it is to maintain being in shape, so it is harder to get from low self-esteem to high self-esteem than it is to maintain high self-esteem. This is the basic principle of inertia. It’s interesting how the basic laws of physics apply to both the body and mind as well as to our physical universe. As we’ll see throughout our entire journey of spiritual and personal growth, the underlying principles that govern the natural world also govern the world of our own bodies and minds. They are not just similar or applicable, they are one and the same.

Related Articles:

Understanding Self-Esteem

What Healthy Self Esteem Looks Like

John Groberg writes on a wide variety of topics related to personal and spiritual growth.  His slogan is Grow. By Choice™.  His articles draw out principles of personal and spiritual growth common to the world’s ancient wisdom and spiritual texts as well as many of the great philosophers, poets, and writers of ancient and modern times.   These principles are then put to the test in his own life with an emphasis on simple, sustainable practices we can apply in our daily lives to more effectively deal with the stresses and struggles of modern life and to more fully realize the benefits of deliberate growth.   John developed a model called the Divine-Align-Shine model as a way of visually organizing the principles, practices and the overall process of personal and spiritual growth.   His writings are cataloged and organized on his website, www.johngroberg.com where contact information is available.