SUNSHOWERPRINTABLES Psuedo-Esteem vs. Self-Esteem - Chapter 4

Psuedo-Esteem vs. Self-Esteem - Chapter 4

For the past few weeks, I have been steadily moving forward with my life. I have created a small business that has taken form and surpassed one hundred sales. I have created a blog based on this business and used it to track my journey towards health and happiness. I have even begun reading the psychiatrist recommended book Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by Dr. Burns. I've been feeling pretty good lately... but while reading chapter four, I hit a road block. 

Titled "Start by Building Self-Esteem," chapter four begins Part II of the text which focuses heavily on the practical applications of cognitive behavioral therapy. Since "80% of depressed patients expressed self-dislike," it stands to reason that this negative perception of oneself is the first problem addressed (53). 

I deal with self-esteem issues quite regularly. Regressing from a fairly successful, independent young woman to a mentally unstable, unemployed hermit heavily damaged my opinion of myself. So the pages I read next should have brought a sense of hope, but instead made my pessimism spiral further into the pits of despair.

Self-esteem is an overwhelmingly philosophical concept that is more complex than it appears on the surface. I have felt a more positive sense of self-esteem these past few days because of my accomplishments (or at least the effort I dedicated), but according to the text... "you cannot earn worth through what you do. Achievements can bring you satisfaction but not happiness. Self-worth based on accomplishments is a 'pseudo-esteem,' not the genuine thing" (57). 

Did this discredit my sense of happiness from the accomplishments I have made thus far? 

No! I mentally smacked myself. That would not be fair... I know there is nothing wrong with being proud of myself. I thought harder about what the author meant... 

Self-esteem must be improved through a constant "systematic reevaluation of... negative self-image" (57). I won't truly believe that I am a better person just because I've been doing more in the past few days. Instead, I have to challenge the way I view myself even when I am unsuccessful because I know on those days that I take a break or mess things up, I will fall back into my pessimistic personal beliefs. 

I am allowed to feel proud about the effort I've committed to regaining my health so far. 

I am allowed to feel good about myself because I've been trying to hard. 

But I will not stop there. I will work towards regaining my sense of self-esteem with the three specific methods explained later in chapter four. So stick around to find out more! 

Lexie

Photography from Pexels and used under the CC0 license.

Original article posted April 2 by Lexie on the official SunshowerPrintables blog.