Really keep the promises that you make to yourself. If you can trust yourself, then you will rise in the esteem of yourself.
High self-esteem equals a healthy psyche. Self-esteem is a fundamental need and crucial for healthy adaptability and self-actualization. All psychological problems (except for those that are biologically induced) are symptoms of an insufficient self-esteem. These range over fear and depressions, under-performance in school and work, fear of intimacy, happiness or success, alcohol and substance abuse, addictions, passivity, chronic aimlessness, violent behavior, suicide and crimes.
Of all the judgments that we pass in life, none is as important as the one we pass on ourselves.
It is not possible for self-esteem to be too high. "Thinking too high of himself" is often attributed to the self-esteem of this individual being to high, but arrogant people often have a very low self-esteem, but try to hide this through their conceited behavior.
Our turbulent time requires a strong self, with a clear feeling of his identity, competence and value. The stability, that we can't find in society and the world, has to be found in ourselves. Going through life with a low self-esteem means a hugh disadvantage in life.
Society at whole and certain obtrusive individuals will constantly push you to assimilate and assume their values. The values that are uphold in family, community and society or only in certain fringe ideologies. They want you to drop your own judgment and your conviction, that your life, and what you make of it, has the highest possible value.
Your life is important. Honor it. Fight for your highest possibilities.
Just as individuals can't hope to realize their own potential, neither can societies, if their members don't respect themselves, do not value their persons, do not trust their minds. In the former soviet union, many problems are related to insufficient self-esteem in the population. The managers and leaders lack any notion of personal responsibility and accountability. This leads to passivity and envy.
Living consciously is essential to healthy self-esteem.
Personal integrity is paramount for a positive self-concept.
A self is to be actualized and celebrated - not aborted and renounced.
Self-esteem is not a gift that we only have to claim (for example by reciting affirmations). On the contrary, its possession over time represents an achievement.
Our self-esteem influences how we act, and our actions influence our self-esteem.
High self-esteem makes it more likely that we continue even in the face of difficulties. A low self-esteem makes it more likely to give up, or to only go through the motions without giving my best. If I show perseverance, it is more likely that I succeed than that I fail. On the other hand, if I give up fast, it is more likely that I fail more often than that I succeed.
High self-esteem means that I trust my mind and judgments, making it more likely that I actually rely on them. This makes me bring more awareness to my actions and in consequence my life works better. And this increases my self-esteem again.
If I distrust my ability to think, it is more likely that I remain passive, don't bring the appropriate awareness to my actions and show less tenacity in times of hardships, so I quit faster. This leads to disappointing results, and leads myself to distrust my ability to think even more.
If I respect myself, and demand from others to deal respectfully with me, my behavior automatically signals this to others, which increases the probability that they treat me appropriately. On the other hand, if I lack self-respect and accept discourtesy, abusive or exploitation, I unconsciously transmit this, so some people will treat me accordingly. This will lower my self-esteem even further.
Self-esteem doesn't only allow us to feel better, but it allows us to live better. And to respond more appropriately to challenges and opportunities in our life.