nathaniel-branden Quotes About self

“We do not hear the term compassionate applied to business executives or entrepreneurs, certainly not when they are engaged in their normal work. Yet in terms of results in the measurable form of jobs created, lives enriched, communities built, living standards raised, and poverty healed, a handful of capitalists has done infinitely more for mankind than all the self-serving politicians, academics, social workers, and religionists who march under the banner of compassion.”

Source: The Psychology of Romantic Love: Romantic Love in an Anti-Romantic Age

“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

“In a world in which we are exposed to more information, more options, more philosophies, more perspectives than ever before, in which we must choose the values by which we will live (rather than unquestioningly follow some tradition for no better reason than that our own parents did), we need to be willing to stand on our own judgment and trust our own intelligence-to look at the world through our own eyes-to chart our course and think through how to achieve the future we want, to commit ourselves to continuous questioning and learning-to be, in a word, self-responsible.”

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

“A well-developed sense of self is a necessary if not sufficient condition of your well-being. Its presence does not guarantee fulfillment, but its absence guarantees some measure of anxiety, frustration, or despair.”

Ifs Wells Doe Self Conditions Despair Anxiety Absence Well Being Fulfillment Sufficient Guarantees Frustration Sense Of Self

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 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

“To love is to see myself in you and to wish to celebrate myself with you. What I love is the embodiment of my values in another person. Love is an act of self-assertion, self-expression and a celebration of being alive.”

Persons Self Values Wish Love Is Alive Expression Celebrate Celebration Assertion Self Expression Embodiment Selfless Love Persons Love

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

“One of the characteristics of love relationships that flower is a relatively high degree of mutual self-disclosure - a willingness to let our partner enter into the interior of our private world and a genuine interest in the private world of that partner. Couples in love tend to show more of themselves to each other than to any other person.”

Source: The Psychology of Romantic Love: Romantic Love in an Anti-Romantic Age

“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

“One of the hardest expressions of self-assertiveness is challenging your limiting beliefs.”

Self Belief Challenges Expression Hardest Assertiveness Limiting Beliefs

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“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

“The greater a child’s terror, and the earlier it is experienced, the harder it becomes to develop a strong and healthy sense of self.”

Children Self Strong Greater Healthy Harder Terror Sense Of Self

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“It is naive to think that self-assertiveness is easy. To live self-assertively--which means to live authentically--is an act of high courage. That is why so many people spend the better part of their lives in hiding--from others and also from themselves.”

People Thinking Mean Self Easy Hiding Naive Assertiveness Assertive

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

“If you choose not to live self-responsibly, you count on others to make up your default. No one abjures self-responsibility on a desert island.”

Ifs Self Responsibility Desert Islands You Choose Default Self Responsibility

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 painful to face the self we know we have never had the integrity to honor and assert.”

Knows Self Faces Honor Integrity Painful

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“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

“A bully hides his fears with fake bravado. That is the opposite of self-assertiveness.”

Self Opposites Fake Bully Assertiveness Assertive Bravado

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

“The greatest barrier to achievement and success is not lack of talent or ability but rather the feeling that achievement and success, above a certain level, are outside our self-concept-our image of who we are and what is appropriate to us.”

Self Feelings Certain Ability Levels Talent Achievement Concepts Who We Are Appropriate Barriers Self Concept Achievement And Success

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

“If you are an adult, you are responsible for your life and well-being. No one owes you the fulfillment of your needs or wants; no one is here on earth to serve you. If you respect the principle of self-ownership, you understand that no one else owns you and that you do not own anyone else. Only on this understanding can there be peace on earth and good will among human beings.”

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

“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

“Where we see self esteem, we see self acceptance. High self esteem individual tend to avoid falling into an adversarial relationship with themselves.”

Self Fall Individual Self Esteem Acceptance Esteem Self Acceptance High Self Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Your life is important. Whether you achieve what you want in life matters. Whether you are happy matters. Honor and fight for your highest potential. Self-realizatio n-the realization of the best within you-is the noblest goal of your existence.”

Want Important Self Matter Life Is Fighting Goal Existence Achieve Honor Highest What You Want Realization Within You

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“Living consciously is seeking to be aware of everything that bears on our interests, actions, values, purposes, and goals. It is the willingness to confront facts, pleasant or unpleasant. It is the desire to discover our mistakes and correct them . . . it is the quest to keep expanding our awareness and understanding, both of the world external to self and the world within.”

Source: The Art of Living Consciously: The Power of Awareness to Transform Everyday Life

“Of all the judgments you make in life, none is as important as the one you make about yourself. The difference between low self-esteem and high self-esteem is the difference between passivity and action, between failure and success.”

Important Self Action Differences Self Esteem Judgment Lows Esteem About Yourself Success And Failure Low Self Esteem Passivity High Self Esteem

Author:Nathaniel Branden

“To accept struggle as part of life, to accept all of it, even the darkest moments of anguish; to be motivated by love rather than fear, by confidence rather than insecurity: these are the benchmarks of high self-esteem. The wish to avoid fear and pain is not the motive that drives the lives of highly evolved men and women; rather, it is the life force within them, thrusting toward its unique form of expression-the actualization of personal values.”

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

“The feeling that "I am enough" does not mean that I have nothing to learn, nothing further to achieve, and nowhere to grow to. It means that I accept myself, that I am not on trial in my own eyes, that I value and respect myself. This is not an act of indulgence but of courage.”

Mean Doe Self Enough Feelings Eye Values Grows My Own Accepting Achieve Trials Indulgence Values And Respect

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

“The more you surrender to the fear of someone's disapproval, the more you lose face in your own eyes, and the more desperate you become for someone's approval. Within you is a void that should have been filled by self-esteem. When you attempt to fill it with the approval of others instead, the void grows deeper and the hunger for acceptance and approval grows stronger. The only solution is to summon the courage to honor your own judgment, frightening though that may be in the beginning.”

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

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