self-respect  -  self  -  self-love   

self-esteem

The

Unfortunately, many people operate like a thermometer.  Instead of mercury, their self-esteem may rise and fall according to the "temperature" of other people's opinions of them.  When others think highly of them, these people tend to feel good about themselves.  When they are criticized, their opinion of themselves may drop to a low, cold level. . . . Many of us have been raised giving others a great deal of control over our feelings.  But, as we grow, it's important to learn that how we feel about ourselves, in spite of the opinions of others, can be an essential ingredient of a happy life.  If you allow people the power to set or adjust the thermostat of your self-esteem, you may find yourself at the mercy of their opinions.

John Marks Templeton
Worldwide Laws of Life

     
There's a lot of talk these days about giving children self-esteem. It's not something you can give; it's something they have to build.  Coach Graham worked in a no-coddling zone.  Self-esteem?  He knew there was really only one way to teach kids how to develop it:  You give them something they can't do, they work hard until they find they can do it, and you just keep repeating the process.

Randy Pausch
The Last Lecture
   
Self-esteem cannot be sought as an end in itself but must come as a by-product of meeting standards of excellence--taking pride in work. . . learning about life and imparting that wisdom.

Aaron Wildavsky
   
Think
    

Self-esteem is quiet and confident; it doesn't need to boast and be
self-centered.  True self-esteem empowers us to be loving and giving.
We needn't fear we'll become selfish if we honor our own excellence.
Actually, as we own ours, we do others a favor by encouraging them
to accept their excellence as well.

Sue Patton Thoele
The Courage to Be Yourself

   

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Self-esteem is an upward or downward spiral. What you do
affects the way you feel. How you feel affects the things
you do. The things you do affect what you and others think
of you, which in turn, affects how you feel about yourself.
   You're either building yourself up or tearing yourself down.
There is no status quo when it comes to your self-image.

Michael Angier

    

Supply
   
   
When

    
Self-esteem is not a luxury; it is a profound spiritual need.

The virtues that self-esteem asks of us--living consciously, self-acceptance, self-responsibility, self-assertiveness, puposefulness, integrity--are also the virtues that life asks of us.

Nathaniel Branden
Self-Esteem Every Day

When we appreciate the true nature of self-esteem, we see that it is not competitive or comparative.  It is not about making myself higher by making you lower.  It has nothing to do with you.  It is joy in my own being.
   
We tend to feel better about ourselves when we think that we are better
than others; we feel good about ourselves when others recognize that we
are good. Like peacocks, we have the tendency to flaunt our superior
beauty or intelligence or ability. And while there is nothing wrong with
wanting to be admired and respected—our nature is such that we care
about others’ opinions—this desire to flaunt can come at the expense of
other people. When, to feel superior, we make others feel inferior, we
hurt them (and, in the long run, ourselves). A healthy and stable self-esteem
cannot come at the expense of others’ self-esteem; a deep and lasting
positive regard for ourselves can only emerge from making
others feel better about themselves.

Tal Ben-Shahar
Choose the Life You Want
   

dlgh

   

   

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Abundance

    

   

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Healthy self-esteem isn't only about your ability to cope with the
challenges of life, but also about your right to enjoy the rewards--
your right to be happy and to feel pride in what you have accomplished.

Nathaniel Branden
Self-Esteem Every Day
   

Plant

   

The

   

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Wealth
   

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Alone in his car heading west, it's easy for Jason
to feel sorry for himself and mad at the world.  But
then he gives a ride to Hector and learns that life
isn't nearly as negative as we sometimes see it,
and that the prejudice and discrimination that
he's experiencing aren't unique to him--and aren't
impossible to overcome.  The friendship between
this young man and his 70-year-old passenger is
an inspiring story of love and dealing with
obstacles in our lives.    
Book - Kindle