Education is Freedom
Paulo Friere
The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem: The Definitive Work on Self-Esteem by the Leading Pioneer in the Field.
Nathaniel Branden
“One of the biggest lies we were ever told is that it is “easy” to be selfish and that self-sacrifice takes spiritual strength. People sacrifice themselves in a thousand ways every day. This is their tragedy. To honor the self – to honor mind, judgment, values, and convictions – is the ultimate act of courage. Observe how rare it is. But it is what self-esteem asks of us.“
To succeed in life is to know what it is you desire and to take action towards it. The ability to take effective action in this manner depends on the knowledge of the self, the willingness to recognise our strengths and weaknesses, and the courage to rise to our potential. In short, developing our self-esteem in a world where such a value is encouraged to be sacrificed, is the key to living a life of personal and spiritual fulfillment.
Leading psychologist Nathaniel Branden posits that a healthy foundation of self-esteem rests on six pillars, defining the practices of:
1) Living consciously
2) Self-acceptance
3) Self-responsibility
4) Self-assertiveness
5) Living purposefully
6) Personal integrity
When encountering the myriad of challenges, setbacks and defining moments that are inevitably weaved through the tapestry of life, we are often faced with a choice; to act in a way that aligns with our core values, or to betray the very essence of ourselves and avoid discomfort. In examining these six pillars in the context of overarching societal, cultural and spiritual beliefs, we may come to understand whether or not our choices truly support our growth and the integrity of the soul, or betray them. Defined in the book as the “immune system of consciousness”, self-esteem serves us in being an ethereal beacon through the storms and ill-fated temptations of life, keeping us on a path that honours our being and the realisation of all that we can be.
It is a virtue that is all too often underestimated as the catalyst to our happiness and success, and is therefore crucial to comprehend. To unapologetically pursue your purpose and to stand unwavering in your self-belief, self-responsibility and self-respect is, in effect, to allow love to be the prime motivator in your life.