Self-Esteem First Must Be Grounded in Self-Worth

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Can we really solve all of society's ills with just more self-esteem? Sometimes I think that's what some of us believe. As I read the books, magazine articles and professional journals that come across my desk and computer monitor, I see the phrase "low self-esteem" used to explain almost any personality or behavioral problem being described. Whether in the field of education, religion, psychology or psychotherapy, the lack of self-esteem often seems to be the diagnosis of choice.

I certainly agree that low self-esteem is a problem. Simply building up people's esteem, however, is not necessarily going to solve anything. Our self-esteem first must be grounded in our self-worth. …