nathaniel-branden Quotes About self-esteem

“We are parts of one universe, true enough. We stand within an almost infinite network of relationships. Yet each of us is a single point of consciousness, a unique event, a private, unrepeatable world. This is the essence of our aloneness.”

Humanity Individual Psychology Self Esteem Individuality

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“The challenge for people today--and it is not and easy one--is to maintain high personal standards even while feeling that one is living in a moral sewer.”

Evil Freedom Virtue Psychology Society Self Esteem Morality Self Knowledge Immorality

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“One of the great self-deceptions--and one of the great foolishnesses--is to tell yourself, Only I will know. Only you will know that you are a liar; only you will know you deal unethically with people who trust you; only you will know you have no intention of honoring your promise. Whose knowledge or judgment do you imagine is more important? It is precisely your own ego from which there is no escape.”

Responsibility Psychology Self Esteem Self Respect Self Knowledge

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Self-discipline is the ability to organize your behavior over time in the service of specific goals.”

Life Purpose Psychology Self Esteem Health Discipline Mental Health Productive

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“It is humiliating to realize that when you drive yourself underground, when you fake who you are, often you do so for people you do not even like or respect.”

Psychology Self Esteem Integrity Mask Hide

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“In the inner courtroom of my mind, mine is the only judgment that counts.”

Self Esteem Independence Self Acceptance Self Criticism Inner Critic

Book:Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

Source: Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

“Some people stand and move as if they have no right to the space they occupy. They wonder why others often fail to treat them with respect--not realizing that they have signalled others that it is not necessary to treat them with respect.”

Psychology Self Esteem Victimhood Abuse Recovery People Pleaser

Book:Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

Source: Six Pillars of Self-Esteem

“Genuine self esteem – please understand this – genuine self esteem is not competitive or comparative. Genuine self esteem isn’t expressed by self-glorification at the expense of others, or by trying to make yourself superior to everyone else, or diminishing others in order to elevate yourself. Arrogance, boastfulness, the overestimation of your abilities, reflect low self esteem, even though we’re often encouraged to believe the opposite. In human beings, joy in the simple fact of existence is a core meaning of healthy self esteem. Thus understood, how can you possibly have too much of it?”

Psychology Self Esteem Competition Mental Health Self Knowledge Unhealthy

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive and say, "It's easy for her, she has good self-esteem." One of the ways you build self-esteem is by being self-assertive when it is not easy to do so. There are always times when self-assertiveness requires courage, no matter how high your self-esteem.”

Psychology Self Esteem Self Knowledge Assertiveness

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“The opposite of self-assertiveness is self-abnegation--abandoning or submerging your personal values, judgment, and interests. Some people tell themselves this is a virtue. It is a "virtue" that corrodes self-esteem.”

Psychology Self Esteem Assertiveness

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Out of fear, out of the desire for approval, out of misguided notions of duty, people surrender themselves--their convictions and their aspirations--every day. There is nothing noble about it. It takes far more courage to fight for your values than to relinquish them.”

Psychology Self Esteem Cowardice

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“To honor the self is to be willing to think independently, to live by our own mind, and to have the courage of our own perceptions.”

Self Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“While self-esteem touches virtually every aspect of our existence, there are two aspects to which it is related in very distinct and powerful ways: work and love. Through work and through love, we act out the level of our confidence and our sense of personal worth. The drama of our life is the external reflection of our internal vision of ourselves. The higher the level of our self-esteem, the more likely it is that we will find a work and a love through which we can express ourselves in satisfying and enriching ways.”

Self Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“The first act of honoring the self is the assertion of consciousness: the choice to think, to be aware, to send the searchlight of consciousness outward toward the world and inward toward our own being. To default on this effort is to default on the self at the most basic level.”

Self Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“The union two abysses does not produce a height.”

Quotes Self Esteem Self Help Nathaniel Branden

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“The higher our self-esteem, the more likely we are to be creative in our work, which means the more successful we are likely to be. The higher our self-esteem, the more ambitious we tend to be, not necessarily in a career or financial sense, but in terms of what we hope to experience in life - emotionally, creatively and spiritually.”

Self Esteem

Book:How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

Source: How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

“Sometimes the path to higher self-esteem is lonely and frightening. We cannot fully know in advance how much more satisfying our lives will be. But the more we are willing to experience and accept the many aspects of who we are, the richer our inner worlds, the greater our resources, the more appropriate we feel to the challenges and opportunities of life. Also, it is more likely that we will find - or create - a style of existence that will meet our individual needs.”

Self Esteem

Book:How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

Source: How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

“Of all the judgements we pass, none is as important as the one we pass on ourselves.”

Self Esteem

Book:How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

Source: How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

“Our liabilities pose the problem of inadequacy; our our assets, the challenge of responsibility. Our strengths or virtues can make us feel alone, alienated, cut off from the common herd, a target for envy and hostility, and our desire to belong can overcome any desire to actualise our highest potential.”

Self Esteem

Book:How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

Source: How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

“It sounded, I told him, as if he had never learned to balance projecting goals into the future with appreciating and living in the present. ... To the extent that our goal is to "prove" ourselves or ward off the fear of failure, this balance is difficult to achieve. We are too driven. Not joy but anxiety is our motor. But if our aim is self-expression rather than self-justification, the balance tends to come more naturally. We will still need to think about its daily implementation, but the anxiety of wounded self-esteem will not make the task nearly impossible.”

Self Esteem Balance Anxiety

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“All positive interactions with other human beings involve, to some degree, the experience of visibility-- that is, the experience of being seen and understood.”

Relationships Friendship Psychology Self Esteem Healthy Self Knowledge

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Positive self-esteem operates as, in effect, the immune system of the consciousness, providing resistance, strength, and a capacity for regeneration. When self-esteem is low, our resilience in the face of life's adversities is diminished. We crumble before vicissitudes that a healthier sense of self could vanquish. We tend to be more influenced by the desire to avoid pain than to experience joy. Negatives have more power over us than positives.”

Source: Power of Self Esteem

“To attain "success" without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an imposter anxiously awaiting exposure.”

Self Feelings Self Esteem Esteem Exposure Imposter Positive Self

Book:A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity

Source: A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity

“It is easy enough to say, Be true to your values. But what if your values are irrational? Or what if the virtues you have committed yourself to are so much against human nature that they cannot be practiced consistently? Be careful of what you accept as your code of morality. Think carefully about whether its tenets serve your life and well being. Exercise critical judgment. Realize how much is at stake-your life, your happiness, your self-esteem.”

“If you feel inadequate to face challenges, unworthy of love or respect, untitled to happiness, and fear assertive thought, wants, or needs- if you lack basic self trust, self-respect, and self-confidence- your self-esteem deficiency will limit you, no matter what other assets you possess.”

Ifs Want Needs Feels Self Matter Faces Challenges Self Esteem Limits No Matter What Self Confidence Esteem Self Respect Assets Inadequate Unworthy Deficiency Assertive Self Trust

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“We tend to feel most comfortable, "most at home", with people whose self esteem level resembles our own.”

People Feels Self Home Levels Self Esteem Comfortable Esteem

Book:Power of Self Esteem

Source: Power of Self Esteem

“There is overwhelming evidence that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will be to treat others with respect, kindness, and generosity.”

“Self esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.”

Self Motivational Self Esteem Esteem Reputation Acquire Self Respect Thrive Lack Of Self Confidence

Book:How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

Source: How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

“Productive achievement is a consequence and an expression of health and self-esteem, not its cause.”

Self Causes Self Esteem Expression Achievement Consequence Esteem Accomplishment Productive

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Of all the judgments we pass in life, none is more important than the judgment we pass on ourselves.”

Source: A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity

“Persons of high self-esteem are not driven to make themselves superior to others; they do not seek to prove their value by measuring themselves against a comparative standard. Their joy is being who they are, not in being better than someone else.”

“To trust one's mind and to know that one is worthy of happiness is the essence of self-esteem.”

Knows Mind Self Self Esteem Confidence Essence Worthy Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“If we do have realistic confidence in our mind and value, if we feel secure within ourselves, we tend to experience the world as open to us and to respond appropriately to challenges and opportunities.”

Ifs World Feels Self Opportunity Challenges Pleasure Achieve Self Esteem Inspire Pride Confidence Achievement Esteem Secure Empowering Realistic Opportunities And Challenges

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Self-acceptance is my refusal to be in an adversarial relationship to myself.”

Self Compassion Self Esteem Acceptance Depression Self Acceptance Refusal

Book:A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity

Source: A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity

“As you grow in self-esteem, your face, manner, way of talking and moving will tend naturally to project the pleasure you take in being alive.”

Way Self Faces Moving Grows Pleasure Talking Alive Self Esteem Projects Esteem Your Face Way Of Talking

Book:How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

Source: How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

“The reputation you have with yourself - your self-esteem - is the single most important factor for a fulfilling life.”

Important Self Self Esteem Self Confidence Esteem Reputation Factors Fulfilling Self Esteem And Confidence Self Confident Fulfilling Life My Self Worth Boost Your Self Esteem Confidence And Love High Self Esteem Self Worth And Love Confidence Love Confident In Yourself

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“The higher our self-esteem, the stronger the drive to express ourselves, reflecting the sense of richness within. The lower our self-esteem, the more urgent the need to "prove" ourselves or to forget ourselves by living mechanically and unconsciously.”

Needs Self Forget Self Esteem Higher Prove Stronger Esteem Urgent Reflecting Richness

Book:A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity

Source: A Woman's Self-Esteem: Struggles and Triumphs in the Search for Identity

“High self esteem people can surely be knocked down by an excess of troubles, but they are quickerto pick themselves up again.”

People Self Trouble Self Esteem Picks Esteem Excess Knocked Down High Self Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“The desire for self-esteem without integrity is like the desire for wealth without effort-a longing for the unearned.”

Self Desire Wealth Effort Self Esteem Integrity Longing Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“One of the most significant characteristics of healthy self esteem is that it is the state of one who is not at war either with himself or with others.”

Inspirational War Self States Self Esteem Healthy Significant Esteem Characteristics Healthy Self Esteem

Book:How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

Source: How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action-Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence

“Self-esteem is a powerful force within each of us... Self-esteem is the experience that we are appropriate to life and to the requirements of life.”

Self Force Powerful Self Esteem Esteem Self Respect Appropriate Requirements

Book:Power of Self Esteem

Source: Power of Self Esteem

“To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the prerogative of mindlessness, but the exact opposite: It is the reward of self-esteem.”

Life Self Life Is Belief Moral Self Esteem Achievement Capacity Opposites Rewards Contrary Esteem Psychological Preserves Enjoyment Unusual Prerogative Contrary To Popular Belief

Book:The Psychology of Self-Esteem: A Revolutionary Approach to Self-Understanding that Launched a New Era in Modern Psychology

Source: The Psychology of Self-Esteem: A Revolutionary Approach to Self-Understanding that Launched a New Era in Modern Psychology

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

Needs Self Spiritual Self Esteem Profound Esteem Luxury Profound Spiritual

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“In any culture, subculture, or family in which belief is valued above thought, and self-surrender is valued above self-expression, and conformity is valued above integrity, those who preserve their self-esteem are likely to be heroic exceptions.”

Self Culture Belief Self Esteem Expression Integrity Surrender Esteem Preserves Exception Conformity Heroic Self Expression Subculture

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“It would be hard to name a more certain sign of poor self-esteem than the need to perceive some other group as inferior.”

Needs Self Hard Would Be Certain Names Poor Groups Self Esteem Esteem Perceive Inferiors

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Your choices have psychological consequences. The way you choose to deal with reality, truth, facts - your choice to honor or dishonor your own perceptions - registers in your mind, for good or for bad, and either confirms and strengthens your self-esteem or undermines and weakens it.”

Way Mind Self Facts Reality Choices Deals Self Esteem Honor Perception Consequence Esteem Psychological You Choose Register Dishonor

Book:Nathaniel Brandens Self-Esteem Every Day: Reflections on Self-Esteem and Spirituality

Source: Nathaniel Brandens Self-Esteem Every Day: Reflections on Self-Esteem and Spirituality

“Stressing the practice of living purposefully as essential to fully realized self-esteem is not equivalent to measuring an individual's worth by his or her external achievements. We admire achievements-in ourselves and others-and it is natural and appropriate for us to do so. But that is not the same thing as saying that our achievements are the measure or grounds of our self-esteem. The root of our self-esteem is not our achievements but those internally generated practices that, among other things, make it possible for us to achieve.”

Self Individual Natural Practice Achieve Self Esteem Essentials Achievement Roots Stress Admire Esteem Appropriate Measuring

Book:Nathaniel Brandens Self-Esteem Every Day: Reflections on Self-Esteem and Spirituality

Source: Nathaniel Brandens Self-Esteem Every Day: Reflections on Self-Esteem and Spirituality

“It is a mistake to look at someone who is self assertive and say, "It's easy for her, she has good self-esteem." One of the ways you build self-esteem is by being self-assertive when it is not easy to do so. There are always times when self-assertiven ess requires courage, no matter how high your self-esteem.”

Way Looks Self Matter Easy Mistake Self Esteem Esteem Assertive Building Self Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“The lies most devastating to our self-esteem are not so much the lies we tell as the lies we live.”

Self Lying Self Esteem Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Our motive is not to prove our self-worth, but to live up to our possibilities.”

Self Self Esteem Possibility Prove Self Worth Esteem Motive

Author:Nathaniel Branden

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