The saddest people I’ve ever met were those who doubted their own self-worth. Sometimes, because of their own poor choices, but, more often, because another person had beaten them down, the person without self-esteem looks in the mirror and sees nothing of value.
Experts on human behavior write volumes on how to increase our self-esteem or pride in ourselves. Everyone has a theory about how to improve it. While there are plenty of gimmicks out there, the only true sense of self-worth is the one that grows from within, based on the real and potential gifts in a person. To put it another way, a person can repeat, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough” to himself all day while continuing to be a doormat. No one can rely on external influences and gimmicks; each of us must seize on something within ourselves. Even an esprit de corps expertly generated by a charismatic leader can only go so far. At some point, each individual should internalize their pride in their team and make it their own.
The purpose of The Five Be’s is to help you be free and healthy so you can be the person you want to be. Everyone has something they can be proud of, and their mentors and friends should encourage them to find those things within them. For some, it’s their achievements and their knowledge and know-how. For others, their sense of pride and self-worth comes from their relationships or how they serve others. A person can be proud of their family, or their company’s accomplishments; they can be proud of the mission of their company. The point is each person has something of which they can be proud. The task of mentors, parents, and leaders is to help individuals find their own strength by helping them find something that gives a sense of internal pride and self-worth.
Excerpted from The Five Be’s: A Straightforward Guide to Life. Get your copy here.
Mickey is an expert in leadership and organizational change. During his 30 year US Air Force career Mickey commanded thousands of Airmen, managed portfolios worth billions of dollars, and worked with
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