THE PSYCHOLOGICAL

JOSHUA GONSHER, PSYD, CBT BALTIMORE, 21/9/2022

IMPORTANCE OF SELF-
ESTEEM
What it is, how to improve it, and why we need it now more than ever
 SELF-
ESTEEM
SELF-EFFICACY AND SELF-RESPECT
“IF WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN OURSELVES—
NEITHER IN OUR EFFICACY NOR IN OUR
GOODNESS (AND LOVABILITY)—THE
WORLD IS A FRIGHTENING PLACE.” —
NATHANIEL BRANDEN
SELF-EFFICACY
Confidence in our ability to think, learn, choose, and make appropriate
decisions
IF I KNOW I CAN
HANDLE THE BASIC
CHALLENGES OF LIFE, I
WILL NOT BE ANXIOUS.
I AM CAPABLE
 WHAT ARE SOME REAL-WORLD
EXAMPLES OF
SUFFICIENT/INSUFFICIENT SELF-
EFFICACY?
 SELF-EFFICACY
-
I can earn a living.
-
I am able to live independently.
-
I participate meaningfully in human relationships.
-
I have mutually satisfying interactions with others.
-
I bounce back from adversity.
-
I persevere in my aspirations.
 HOW CAN WE HELP
FOSTER SELF-EFFICACY?
SELF-RESPECT
Confidence in our right to be happy and in the belief that achievement,
success, friendship, respect, love, and fulfillment are appropriate to us
IF I KNOW I AM
WORTHY OF
HAPPINESS, I WILL
NOT BE DEPRESSED.
I AM LOVABLE
 WHAT ARE SOME REAL-WORLD
EXAMPLES OF
SUFFICIENT/INSUFFICIENT SELF-
RESPECT?
SELF-RESPECT
-
I do not beat myself up after failing.
-
I am forgiving.
-
I take pride and pleasure in my accomplishments.
-
I love myself.
-
I communicate openly, honestly, and appropriately.
 HOW CAN WE HELP
FOSTER SELF-RESPECT?
SIX PILLARS

OF SELF-
ESTEEM
-
Living Consciously
-
Self-Acceptance
- Self-Responsibility
-
Self-Assertiveness
-
Living Purposefully
-
Personal Integrity
LIVING CONSCIOUSLY
1. Be present in what we are doing
2. Seek to understand whatever influences our interests, values, goals
3. Be aware of the external world, as well as the internal one
SELF-ACCEPTANCE
1. Own and experience—without denial or disowning—the reality of our
thoughts/emotions/actions.
2. Be respectful/compassionate toward ouselves even if we do not enjoy
certain feelings/decisions.
3. Refuse to reject or be adversarial towards ourselves.
SELF-RESPONSIBILITY
1. Recognize that we are the author of our lives.
2. Be the ultimate source of our own fulfillment.
3. No one is coming to help us/make our lives right for us/give us self-
esteem!
SELF-ASSERTIVENESS
1. Honor our wants/needs and seek to express them appropriately in
reality.
2. Live our values in the world.
3. Be who we are and allow others to see this.
4. Stand up for our convictions/values/emotions
LIVING PURPOSEFULLY
1. Take responsibility for identifying our goals.
2. Engage in behaviors to reach and achieve them.
3. Keep focused and move toward fulfilling them.
PERSONAL INTEGRITY
1. Have principles of behavior
2. Remain loyal to them in action
3. Keep our promises
4. Honor our commitments
5. Walk our talk
 URGENT NEED FOR
SELF-ESTEEM NOW
BUT WHY?

THE WORLD IS INCREASINGLY COMPLEX, CHALLENGING, AND COMPETITIVE

RAPID CHANGE, SCIENTIFIC/TECHNOLOGICAL
BREAKTHROUGHS, COMPETITION
-
Demands for higher levels of education/training, psychological resources
-
Innovation, self-management, personal responsibility, self-direction
-
At every level, not just at the top!
HOW CAN WE INCLUDE THE PRACTICE OF SELF-
ESTEEM IMPROVEMENT IN OUR PRACTICE?
-
Five minutes a day
-
Emotional Intelligence
-
Mourning losses
-
Engaging in behaviors those with high self-esteem do