Mark twain said, “a man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.” This quote is so important to understand. Self-esteem is the necessary component Two most all accomplishment. They desire that fuels a person to do the best job possible is foundational to success. How I feel about me will often determine the job that I do in the subsequent outcome. Going back to the quote by Mark Twain it is necessary that I approve of me.
Without this personal approval whatever I am doing will be short-lived or under performed. It is near impossible to feel comfortable inside my own skin without approving that which I see internally. For me to please others effectively and over a period of time I must feel good about who I am. If I do not, my performance will never quite measure up quality wise nor will it be sustained over a period of time. Self-esteem is defined as “A realistic respect or favorable Impression of oneself commonly referred to as self-respect. It is also defined as on inordinately or exaggeratedly favorable impression of oneself. I have learned it, over the years, to have a great amount of personal approval which leads to me being comfortable which validates myself approval. I have friends who lovingly referred to me as “charmingly arrogant.“
They are not sure of how to frame my self-confidence. My self-confidence is driven by myself esteem. My self- esteem is driven by me being comfortable with me because of my personal approval of who I am. It does not mean that I feel I am perfect and have nowhere to grow. It just means that in the here and now I am extremely comfortable with who I am, where I am and what I am doing. Self-esteem also encourages others to become the best possible version of themselves that they possibly can be. It does more than just benefit me.
It benefits those around me and when those who are around me adopt my way of thinking and living it subsequently encourages those who travel in their circles. At the end of the day, this is my primary purpose in life. I often tell people I do the best I possibly can for me so that I will be the best version for others. In recovery there was an adage that stated “the newcomer is the most important person in the room.“ A person once said “if this was true then we view the rooms of recovery has a giant furnace that needs new coals just to keep it going.” This person went on to say “if we who are already here don’t do the best we possibly can for ourselves there’s not going to be anyone here when the newcomer arrives.“
This is one of the greatest reasons why I need to make sure my level of self-esteem is operating at maximum efficiency. The better I feel about me and being comfortable in my own skin the more I will grow in the more I will grow the more I will be able to assist others. Self-esteem is so much more important than just self. My self-esteem affects others and their self-esteem so they can positively affect others.
Robert Pardon
Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.
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