Self-esteem comes from not letting obstacles get you down. Obstacles can materialize in many different ways. The appearance of a pink slip from your employer when your goal is to get pro- moted. A rejection letter from a literary agent when your goal is to get...
On the plane to Hawaii, I sat next to a man wearing a knit skullcap, sweatsuit, sneakers, and dark glasses. As I do whenever someone sits next to me, I said hello. But then I immediately thought, “He must be one of those hip-hoppers.” And because of my innate belief...
It’s an esteemable act to do the right thing at the moment. Have you ever done something you later regretted, but then found it was too late to make it right? Have you ever wished you had just one more chance to make an amend for harm done? One more opportunity to...
Self-esteem comes from letting go of victimhood. The unabridged version of the Random House Dictionary of the English Language defines a victim as “a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency . . . a person who is deceived or cheated . . . a...
It’s an esteemable act to treasure your friends. Our connection was immediate on our first day at law school. We now have a soulful bond that has spanned almost twenty years. Who would have thought the two of us, from such different worlds, eleven years apart in age,...
Self-esteem comes from having the courage to tell your story. Everyone has a story. Regardless of what our lives look like today, we have a history. For many of us, recalling certain times in our lives is painful. We’d rather forget our history. We’d rather put a lid...
Good health is not a right, it’s a privilege. As a teenager, I was convinced that my body was indestructible, like those of the television characters I idolized: Batgirl and Wonder Woman. I lived on a diet of hamburgers, french fries, macaroni and cheese, soda,...
My friend Jack’s finances and his life are out of control. He’s got $36,000 worth of credit-card debt and a mortgage that exceeds his monthly salary, his kids are in a private school he can’t afford, he drives a current-year luxury car, he drinks lattes seven days a...
It’s an esteemable act to see yourself clearly. It’s easy to be grateful when you receive compliments because they validate who we are and who we want to be. Positive feedback feels good. And some people believe we should only be given encouraging, appreciative...