The higher our self-esteem, the stronger the drive to express ourselves, reflecting the sense of richness within. The lower our self-esteem, the more urgent the need to "prove" ourselves or to forget ourselves by living mechanically and unconsciously.
Nathaniel BrandenHow do we keep our inner fire alive? Two things, at minimum, are needed: an ability to appreciate the positives in our life โ and a commitment to action. Every day, it's important to ask and answer these questions: โWhat's good in my life?โ and โWhat needs to be done?
Nathaniel BrandenYou can be loved by your family, your mate, and your friends yet not love yourself. You can be admired by your associates yet regard yourself as worthless. You can project an image of assurance and poise that fools almost everyone yet secretly tremble with a sense of inadequacy. You can fulfill the expectations of others yet fail your own. You can win every honor yet feel that you have accomplished nothing. What shall it profit a person to gain the esteem of the whole world yet lose his or her own?
Nathaniel Branden