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In Self-Esteem We Trust
We are lost without it
Early Self-Esteem
I find myself incapable of remembering when I first learned about self-esteem. The fact that it is a compound word suggests it is something we have only recently started considering seriously as a society.
It is easy enough to find parents who care for their children. It is common to spot those who push their kids to be the best version of themselves. I know my mum feels she could have been stricter, harsher, and more demanding. Yet, I am still to meet someone raised like that who outdoes a person born in a more relaxed environment. I think the key is self-esteem.
Through Our Fingers
While being pushed to always do better can fuel our efforts, better is complex enough a concept to change depending on how we measure it. For instance, if the grades of a broken education system are the measure, exceptionally talented people might be scolded for poor performance or encouraged to improve at something they cannot: compliance. That confused young human is likely to lack all semblance of self-worth. Even the fortunate youngster who manages to do better by the accepted standards might never feel good enough if constantly pushed to outdo themselves. Self-esteem slips through our desperate fingers before we even know what it is.