A Gallup poll I recently read about said 2 out of 3 Americans suffer from low self-esteem. That’s almost a whopping 70 percent of the population!
John Cali
I’d guess the numbers are about the same for most other countries, though I don’t know for sure.
Other interesting facts about self-esteem:
Self-esteem expert and best-selling author Jack Canfield says the average child hears 432 negative statements every day, but only 32 positive statements.
The California Task Force for Personal and Social Responsibility has this to say:
About 80 percent of humans suffer psychological damage from words. Their research says only 20 percent of children and adults can handle verbal put-downs without suffering emotional pain or damage.
I find it interesting — and scary — that so many people are adversely affected by the words of others. If they had high self-esteem would they care what others say to or about them? I don’t think so.
Words can be healers — or killers.
Here’s Spirit.
Spirit
Your modern society gives you mixed messages about self-esteem. You are generally taught to have great esteem for your parents, your churches, your schools, your governments, etc. But rarely are you taught to have equal esteem for yourselves.
That is the mass consciousness. Many humans have bought into it.
So you have a world filled with old souls struggling with their human experiences.
There is no way you can live the life of your dreams if you buy into the mass consciousness. There’s no way you can live the life of your dreams if you are not the person of your dreams.
It all comes down to love. Love, pure and simple. If you love yourselves, esteem yourselves, you will find yourselves returning to the vision, the dream your higher selves have for you, the human aspects of themselves.
You live in a tough world. But not so tough you cannot navigate through it. Tough enough, though, to give you some interesting experiences and opportunities for growth.
You are not here to suffer, although many of you have chosen to suffer. You are not here to live in lack, although many of you have chosen that too. You are not here to be depressed, although many of you follow that path.
You are here to realize you are at the end of thousands of years of self-imposed limitation. You are here to grow, to expand. And to do it all in joy.
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Have you had challenges with self-esteem? Please comment below.
We welcome your comments and thoughtful opinions. Please keep them kind and compassionate. If needed, we’ll edit for clarity. Also, we’ll delete anything we consider inappropriate.
Hi John, Chief Joseph, & all other Spirits!
This is a subject that I can really relate to. As far back as I can remember, I have had issues with self-esteem. Even as a little kid, I had a tremendously hard time believing that I had anything special that would make others want to be around me or be friends with me, and I hardly EVER felt or considered myself to be even pretty. I always had an immensely easy time with finding my “flaws” (or what I thought they were), but couldn’t really find much that I was proud of in myself. I would usually have others telling me how pretty or beautiful I was but I could never really accept or believe it. It’s one of the most isolating and lonely feelings to constantly never feel “good” about yourself.
Recently, I started finding A LOT of things I have connected with, that have sparked something deep inside me…the Law of Attraction, the subject of channeling, intuition, and meditation. All these things just feel like they are perfect for me, that I was meant to find these…and they all make me feel like “This is where I belong…these are the things I’m supposed to learn about and grow with.” Ever since I started learning more & more about all of these things, the issues with self-esteem has almost all diminished. I feel more positive, hopeful, and looking forward to the future than I ever remember being.
Hi Cassandra,
Thank you very much for your comments and for sharing your story.
In our work we see so many people struggling with self-esteem — it’s a near-universal issue. I’m delighted to hear you’re beginning to move beyond that stuck place. It sounds like you’ve really found your path — congratulations!
Is it not fortunate that one aligned person is thousands of times more powerful than one who is not. That is why all is well regardless of that stastistic. I would like to add that thoughts and feelings are also powerful whether they are exprfessed or not. As a matter of fact when looking at illness in relation to healing, the unexpressed, those which are unconscious are actually even more to be concerned about. And yes many of those do come from shocks administered by others’ words. This is why healings are often temporary since memory of the initial shock still exists until it can be brought out in the open and seen for what it is and be dealt with. The cells through the cellular memories continue to work for a solution in the best way the cells can. They just never give up until the memories are cancelled out by a new one which technically inform them that all is well. Learning how to achieve this is my present goal and challenge.
Thank you, Ron, for your sharing and comments.
Blessings,
John
I find it interesting that people hear 432 negatives in comparison to 32 positive statements. Not only is it hard on us to hear negatives but it is also hard on us if we are someone that gives that negative statement.
It is always a good idea to think twice before speaking once making sure that your words are words of encouragement instead of words of ridicule. Don’t be one that adds to those 432 negative statements be one that will add to the 32 positive statements.
By saying something positive you add a positive ripple to the Universe.
Thank you very much, Cinda, for your comments — and your great advice.