self-es•teem (noun) self-respect: confidence in your own merit as an individual.

Who do you think you are?
How often have we stretched ourselves to venture into or believe something new about ourselves and heard this voice pushing back at us, from those who "love" us or worst from ourselves. Who we think we are affects everything in our lives, from how we perceive the world, to what we believe is our place in it and thus what we believe is possible for us.

I believe that we have an epidemic of low self-esteem in this country and the world over, created from eons of conditioning to maintain societal structure and our various roles within it. The time has come for us to remember who we truly are as beings of "infinite dignity and worth," as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently put it.

What if we all remembered our true dignity and worth as individuals?
And, what if, from this place of infinite self-love we made all our decisions and based all our actions? What a world we would live in. What if our daughters and sons, sisters and brothers knew who they truly were? What kind of lives could they create for themselves? What contribution could you make to the world, if you knew that written in the very fabric of your DNA are the seeds of Divinity? My heart swells when I consider the possibilities.

As an African-American girl growing up in the south, all the cultural cues around me told me who I was, what my place was and what kind of life I was expected to live. I could have chosen to accept that vision for myself consciously, or as we often do unconsciously. My parents did their best to teach me how to be a decent, loving individual, based on their own experience in life. We all have our own stories. It is all the same even for those of us who appear to come from "privileged" circumstances. We have forgotten who we all truly are. If we are to responsibly handle the evolutionary changes that are happening in the world today, we must discard old, antiquated views about who and what we are, gently and lovingly. We must heal our sense of separation from our innate divine nature and remember who we truly are. Marianne Williamson put it so well, as Nelson Mandela recognized, "We were born to manifest the glory of God within us. It's not just in some, it's in everyone." It is time for each of us to consciously choose who we are and what our expression in the world shall be, to stop playing small.

Consider This
According to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, self-esteem is one our four basic needs (which also include survival, security and social acceptance- belonging). Until met, self-esteem issues limit our ability to experience higher forms of beauty, affects our ability to learn and prohibits our ability to walk the path towards self-actualization.
Source: Toward a Psychology of Being by Abraham H. Maslow, Richard Lowry (Editor)

Affirm Daily
I am a being of dignity and worth. I love myself deeply and profoundly. I am grateful for who and what I am. I am blessed and I am a blessing to the world.

Ask Yourself (the answer will come in time):
How can I love and appreciate myself more today?

Act Now:
Tips for Raising Your Self-Esteem

Choose to live consciously. Remember that what we think about ourselves is an act of choice. Begin to choose differently. Affirm your essential worth daily. See yourself as successful. Regardless of where you are now, or where you have been, today is a new day and you can choose differently.

Accept yourself as perfect the way you are. That doesn't mean that you are not choosing to change some things about yourself, but acknowledge that you are a worthy child of the Divine just as you are. Do not compare yourself with others, especially models in fashion magazines.

Forgive. Forgive yourself for regarding yourself as less than you truly are. Forgive yourself for everything you may have done or not done in your life. Forgive everyone who has ever "hurt" you in any way. And if necessary, forgive God, for not answering your prayers or granting you the life you thought you should have. Forgiveness is the basis upon which all growth can occur. Do it now and do it often. Forgive and thank the past and live in the present.

Respect yourself and expect others to do the same. We subtly train people how to treat us. Carry yourself as a person of honor. Affirm this for yourself daily by your actions. List 25 things you respect and love about yourself- read and add to it daily. Do not allow others to demean you in any way. Remember who you are, even if those around you cannot.

Create an act of love for yourself daily. It could be a few moments in the park, or taking a bubble bath or buying yourself flowers. Be conscious about it. Need help? Make a list of 50 ways you can show yourself some lovin' and do at least one thing for yourself everyday. Hold it sacred. You are worth it.

Be of service to others in some way. One of the quickest ways to get out of your own "stuff" is to be of support to someone else. But, don't fall into the trap of helping others while tearing yourself down. Remember to give from a full cup by taking care of yourself first.

Don't take things personally. As they say, what other people think about you is none of your business. Remember that others have a right to their opinion, and that you are the "authority" on who and what you are and what you are capable of. Besides, chances are that the people in question have forgotten that they too are beings of infinite worth. Show them some love.

Be grateful. Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools we have for healing whatever ails us. Be grateful for everything, including, if necessary the crooked teeth, the fat thighs and the self-doubt that led you to where you are today. They have taught you something, if you look for it. At night and in the morning, make it priority #1 to thank God for at least 5 things. Watch how your life changes.

When people give you compliments, graciously accept. Receiving compliments is how other people share their appreciation of who we are, and we honor ourselves by graciously accepting. Surround yourself with positive, life affirming people. Hang around people you admire and who admire and believe in you. Protect your emerging sense of self from negative influences by giving negative people a wide berth. Love 'em and let them believe what they choose.

Remember who you are.