Self-Esteem: The Foundation of All You Achieve

At its core, your sense of self-esteem or self-worth has a huge impact on how you live your life.

It frames how you feel about yourself, how you relate to others, how much you achieve in your work - and how you feel about pretty much everything.

In a recent article the well-known speaker Zig Ziglar said, "Many years ago as a young, aspiring speaker, I heard an older speaker who was quite philosophical say that you are where you are because that's exactly where you want to be."

There is some wisdom there. I think our actions and choices do determine where we "are". And all too often our perceptions of ourselves and the choices we make do place limits on how close we get to truly being "where we want to be".

Many of us have dreams and ambitions way beyond what we are actually achieving right now. There is something inside us that holds us back. We are prevented from achieving what we really want, what we really could do.

Why? I think the answer has its roots in our level of self-esteem.

In a 1992 Gallop Poll 89% of respondents said self-esteem was the most important motivator in driving people to work hard and succeed.

If you think of the people you know or have read about who achieve a great deal in their work and their lives, the foundation you will find supporting each and every one of them is their high sense of self-esteem.

They believe in themselves. They have a lot of self-confidence. They like themselves.

This gives them the freedom to reach higher, achieve more and bounce back from their mistakes with apparent ease.

If you feel that your own sense of self-esteem is at the root of disappointments in your career and life, it's time to explore some ways to address the issue head-on and make some real improvements.

Nick Usborne is a freelance writer, author and speaker. For more on building your self-esteem, read his review of the Core Inner Strength hypnosis CD program.

More Resources

The Real Secret of Attraction
The secret of attraction is the unconscious hope for healing and understanding. This is why we are so discriminating in our choice of a marital partner.
How To Invite Positive Change In Your Life
Gnothi seauton,, said Socrates. "Know thyself.
A Sweep of Vanity: How To Burst Your Own Bubble
"Hoy-day! What a sweep of vanity comes this way!" --William Shakespeare, "The Life of Timon of Athens"If there's one characteristic we hope we don't have, it's vanity. We'd rather be considered aggressive, driven, petty, even mean than have others feel that we think too much of ourselves.
Searching for Higher Ground: 24 Hours to a Better Life
There's a moment in one of my favorite films, Searching for Bobby Fischer, where 7-year-old chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin's chess teacher knocks all the pieces off his chess board, in an effort to get him to concentrate deeper on the way the pieces on the board were strategically aligned.As the pieces go flying, scattering noisily about the room, Josh is at first stunned that his teacher would have done such a thing.
A Story Of Unbelievable Persistence
Dick and Jay sat on the ground outside the shed. The rain pelted down on them.
Prosperity on Purpose for a Purpose
Whilst everyone seems hell bent on becoming "wealthy" at all costs, the desire to become prosperous has seemed to fall to the background.I see building ones wealth as very one dimensional.
Your Life and Prosperity Are In Your Reputation!
"Your good name and your reputation are EVERYTHING! ? Protect them at all costs!" my father used to say to me when I was a lad.Even at a young age, I knew there was something important in what my dad was trying to tell me.
Transformational Counseling - Part One
Transformational Counseling is a process of assisting others to transform their lives. Transformational Counseling is a process of assisting others in their reinventing themselves, of creating a life that they love and living it powerfully.
The Fastest Way To Manifest Your Desires
Is there a way to change your life condition, and manifestyour desires at the fastest possible speed?YES! Definitely! There is a secret that can make youmanifest your desires in the fastest possible wayyou can imagine. I am going to share with you thissecrets now.
Attraction Tools for Success: Manifesting Your Intentions
There are several books now that discuss the power of thought and I have been experimenting with the concept for the past few years. I understand the concept that "like things" attract more "like things".
Dreams
When I was a kid sitting in school I can remember looking out the window daydreaming of mountains, and skiing. These were just a few things I dreamed of doing.
I Like to be Unreasonable
"Progress is made by only unreasonable man" -- Gorge Bernard ShawUnusual is something people dislike to have in their life. It is a change design to alter all the circumstances and environment around you.
Achieving Your Vision of Abundance
How can we have more abundance in our lives? It begins by noticing the abundance that we already have.We cannot experience abundance yesterday or tomorrow.
You Teach People How to Treat You
So often we hear people ask the question, "Why does he/she/they treat me/us so badly?". The honest answer, in most cases, is "Because you let him, her or they!"If that seems too simple an answer, think of it this way.
Why Character and Integrity Are So Important
It's been said that character is defined by what you do when you think no one is watching. What an illuminating concept that is.
Awaken The Genie Within
Ancient lore tells us that there's a magical genie who lives in a lamp and the person who possesses that lamp has the power to invoke wishes and desires beyond our wildest dreams.If I told you that Genie lives in you, would you believe me? Maybe not.
Creating Your Own Destiny
If you don't know where you are going, you won't know how to get there. How can you get a sense of purpose or meaning in life unless you have dreams or visions of what you want to achieve? Goals are dreams with deadlines, which propel you on your journey of self-discovery and self-achievement.
The Art of Perfecting the Life
First of all, you have to trust that you are perfect at the core of your original mind, at the centre of your heart. Pull out the energy from the thoughts of your own unworthiness which the personality has acquired through the unconscious identification of memory.
What Image Are You Projecting?
I want you to think about something for a few moments. Do you have any perception about what sort of image you are projecting? I'm talking about the personal or professional image that you are presenting to the rest of the world.
Small Steps And Golden Stones
It was a long walk but someone had to do it. And today it was upto Tori to carry the water from the river, through the fieldsand across the valley, back to the camp.

More Attraction Information:

Related Articles

Change The World
It is becoming clear that the way a country or society is, the kind of "psyche" it has, depends on the way people relate to each other one-to-one, at the day-to-day level of life.At this one-to-one level there are very simple "Rules" of behaving.
Make the Eat and Earn Connection
If you've ever thought about wanting to increase your physical energy and wouldn't mind increasing your financial as well, you have to read this right now!Focus #1 - Name Your Hunger/Want/Desire/Achievement? You know what you want to change better than anyone else. It is that nagging voice in the back of your head that speaks to you every time you go against it (i.
The Magnetic, Attracting Power of the Mind
The power of the mind draws certain events, circumstances and people into our lives and repels others. In this respect, it resembles a magnet.
Heres What I Got Out Of "What The Bleep Do We Know"
Your mind is so powerful that what you focus on happens. Your intent bends reality, creating vibrations in the quantum field.
Give The Wrong Words An Inch And They May Take A Mile!
What do you do when circumstances seem out of control? What's the first thing you look for? Or Whom? What immediately runs through your mind? Do you yell? Do you curse? Do you go bow up your back like a porcupine getting ready for all out war?By Word Of Mouth!There is something that every one of us has been taught to do since we were born and yet so few people know how to control it. We have been taught how to talk, but still don't know how to control our mouth.
When You Attract Negative People, Be Thankful
Laws of Attraction are clearly defined. What comes back is a reflection of the energy you are radiating.
You Think That You're Listening?. But Are You Actually Hearing What Im Saying?
"We have two ears and one mouth, so that we can listen twice as much as we speak" - Epictetus, Greek Stoic Philosopher. (55AD-135AD)In our fast-paced culture conversations have little to do with communication - they are about talking.
Aging Gracefully Through Vastu Shastra
Aging is inevitable, but its most negative effects can be minimized and turned into a graceful progression. Exercise and proper diet are key factors.
Write Goals, Say Prayers, and See Your Successful Future
Would you like to have more success in your life?Yes, I'm sure that you do! That being the case, Ihave an invitation and a challenge for you. Areyou up for it? Okay, here we go?We are all multi-sensory beings, meaning that weall have the sensory connections through seeing,tasting, smelling, speaking, hearing and feeling.
Closing the Feedback Loop
In earlier articles, I've often spoken about the supreme importanceof becoming a good listener. I've even gone as far as to suggestthat listening might be the most important communication skill of them all.
WAKE UP and Create Something
It's time for the "mainstream" to WAKE UP. The alarm clockis ringing, they keep hitting snooze, and in the meantime,the life they could be living is passing them by.
My Other Life is Exciting, is Yours?
Everyone dreams of a more exciting life or a life that is different to the one they are living now.As you dream about your other life, you know the one, where you're slimmer or fatter or the one where you meet your perfect partner and live happily ever after or you have a million dollars or you pass the exam and go to the top of the class, the dreams go on and on and we all have them.
The Friend Crush: Is This Love Or Friendship
He's your good friend. She's your best confidant.
The Secret of Self Care
Wherever you go, there you are. There's no escaping it - your world is a reflection of you and if the view in your mirror doesn't elicit a certain spark perhaps it's time to question the underlying assumptions.
The Universal Laws Of Attraction
You know it's funny how some people just seem to have all the luck in the world. Infact in some cases it almost seems to be unfair.
Antagonists And Fear
It is important to have your own values, beliefs and understanding of the world around you and not let fear take hold of you.The quote, "My life has been filled with terrible misfortune; most of which never happened.
Change Your Story; Change Your Life
When was the last time you told someone the story of your life? We don't come upon these opportunities often, but when we do, it's extremely telling not only about our perspective on life, but also about how the rest of our life will unfold! Who said crystal balls don't exist? Just listen to yourself talk, and you'll know all there is to know.What Our Stories RevealYou've heard and told your share of stories, chatting with moms at the kids' swimming lessons, sitting in the middle seat on a long flight, or in the chair at the beauty salon.
The Three Pillars of Life
We all have the power to change our lives. What differentiates between those who take the action to change and those who just sit on the sidelines are three basic human endowments.
Seven Truths of Universal Law
Truth To Live By:What truths do you live by? Are the truths dependable? Are they consistent? Can you take some action and just know that the results will be as you anticipated. That is what you can count on when you use truth based on Universal Law.
Use Your Vibrations of Energy to Communicate
In the past, I have touched on the connection of quantum physics and communication. One of my passions is to understand the connection that we create on a much higher level.