Posted by Racer on April 22, 2008, at 11:06:51
In reply to self esteem, how to get it?, posted by Happyflower on April 21, 2008, at 19:52:57
Seriously, though, I think what's already been said is right on: self esteem is built on accomplishment.
Studies have shown that academic achievement predicts healthy self-esteem, but good self esteem does not predict academic achievement. The first I read involved testing children several times through their school years. The first test cycle identified high achieving students, and students with good self esteem. The follow up, about three years later, showed that the students with academic achievement the first round had higher self-esteem on the second round, but those who started out with self-esteem had not improved academic performance -- and their self-esteem had slipped a bit, too.
So, if you want self-esteem, look at your achievements, and try to figure out which ones *you* value. Not which ones you've received good feedback from, but which ones *you,* yourself, value. Which ones would be most important to you if you were along in a dark room? Those are the things to pursue, to continue to improve your self-esteem.
Hope that helps.
poster:Racer
thread:824665
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20080405/msgs/824782.html