According to studies, at least 85 percent or more of the world’s population suffers from low self-esteem. Although it may appear that such issues are solely experienced by the poor, uneducated, or members of society from lower socioeconomic groups, people from all walks of life might face situational or more widespread challenges with their self-esteem.
Many very successful business individuals suffer from low self-esteem in certain aspects of their lives. Perhaps they are socially awkward or have a hard time forming close or personal relationships. Maybe they have low self-esteem because of their physical appearance or their health. Perhaps they aren’t having enough fun in their life, or perhaps they are focusing too much on their work. Many “successful” people have a strong desire to achieve their goals. They work harder and find a place where they can thrive at work to compensate for feeling weak in other parts of their lives. This gives them a new focus where they may win, but it ignores their unmet needs in other areas such as relationships, recreation, personal and spiritual development, health and attractiveness, and their capacity to live balanced, enjoyable, and satisfying lives.
It’s not that finding an occupation niche where one can be successful and feel good about oneself is a bad thing. Many people who lack self-esteem in other areas, on the other hand, are determined to succeed and establish their worth. They disregard other areas to focus disproportionately on business because it is an area where they can excel.
However, even in areas where they succeed, there is no permanent gratification since their activities are based on the false belief that they are somehow not good enough, somehow defective, or undeserving of being totally loved and appreciated. It’s as if they’re climbing a ladder, the summit of which is in the clouds. They believe that if they only go high enough, they will succeed. They’ll have demonstrated their worth. They will find contentment, joy, and fulfillment. They never seem to arrive as they rise higher and higher. New aims and objectives are constantly presented to them, forcing them to demonstrate their worth. The more they accomplish, the further they still have to go. They never seem to measure up, no matter how hard they try. Or, if they do, it is only temporary and transient. There is no getting to the point where they find the peace of mind that comes from self-love and self-acceptance that they crave.
They frequently sink as quickly as they rise since the basis of their ladder is built on quicksand. In fact, they will never achieve the perfection that they so desperately desire. They’ll always find proof to point out their shortcomings and confirm their anxieties of being unworthy, unlovable, or flawed in some way.
The Self-Esteem Book’s message is straight forward. Nobody has to live a life with a bleak outlook because of a lack of self-esteem. Most individuals believe that there is something wrong with them, that they are insufficient, unworthy of love, and unworthy of everything that life has to offer. They can reinterpret what happened to them in such a way that they can heal and complete the past, eliminate negative self-talk, and live their lives from a conscious decision to strive for excellence and contribute if they are willing to examine their past to get to the source of their resignation and diminished self-esteem. They can reinterpret what happened to them in such a way that they can heal and complete the past and eliminate negative self-talk while making a conscious decision to live their lives from a decision to strive for excellence and contribute to others if they are willing to examine their past to get to the source of their resignation and diminished self-esteem. They will express satisfaction and contentment if they establish a clear sense that they can influence others and the world around them and that they are, in fact, quite deserving of life’s rewards.
Lacking self-esteem affects business people in a variety of ways, in addition to the cost of never achieving true satisfaction, long-term fulfillment, or tranquility. They compromise their own power, their capacity to best pursue their life purpose and fully manifest their abilities in the world, for example, by not addressing the source of their self-esteem difficulties. We can never be truly present to today if we are distracted with our weaknesses or incomplete with our past. As a result, we forfeit our true potential to get a goal.
Our relationships deteriorate as a result of our misinterpretation of others’ words and behaviors, which invalidates us and makes us feel horrible about ourselves. We may be so determined to establish our worth that we neglect our personal efficacy and charisma by focusing on ourselves and our flaws rather than the goals and needs of others. In social circumstances or whenever the danger of looking bad or “being found out” arises, we may play small and hide. Or, out of a drive to prove our worth to others or to ourselves, we may overcompensate and develop workaholic tendencies. We trade our potential to have a maximum impact on others and to have a positive impact on ourselves as a result of this misguided attention. We trade our capacity to have the greatest impact on others and to best give our gifts to the world because of this misdirected concentration.
The three-step technique outlined in The Self-Esteem Book is the key to breaking free from the vicious cycle of low self-esteem, low confidence, and the never-ending, frustrated search for fulfillment. The process begins with repairing one’s past so that it no longer drains our energy and takes up our time. After the ghosts of the past have been released, we may focus on accurately examining our current situation. We can figure out what’s working and what’s not in our lives to help us live an upset-free life in our own time, one that honors our most essential values and motivates us to live passionately.
Finally, we can use the magic wand that is our birthright to wave over our life and consciously shape our destiny. We can choose to do so in a way that delights us, as we release ourselves from a bleak condition of low self-esteem, unhealthy resignation, and self-pity that no longer serves us. We can live with the aim of honoring our God-given magnificence and leading joyful, meaningful lives while sharing our gifts with the world.
