Page 49 - C:\Users\STEVEB~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msoD93E.tmp

ϰϵ

Low self–esteem is at the core of our behaviours which make us feel that life is unproductive or
unmanageable. The purpose of this session is to assist you to get life under control so as to feel
more productive, successful and happy.

The development of low self-esteem takes time. It takes a series of events and a chain of habitual
behaviours to dampen our sense of self-worth. What is most important is for you to identify the
negative impact of low self esteem which has resulted in your feelings of being out of control,
unproductive, and unhappy.

Low self–esteem has its origins in a number of life circumstances. If you come from a family of
origin where one or both of your parents had problems with alcohol, drugs, mental illness,
physical abuse, inability to show warmth, affection and approval, overly critical, rigid in religious
belief, workaholism, then in all likelihood your self–esteem suffered. If you were physically,
emotionally, verbally, or sexually abused or neglected your self–esteem was lowered.

The Impact of Low Self Esteem

If, in a relationship you worked hard to overcome the other person's irresponsibility and insecurity,
this `"codependent'' relationship negatively affected your self–esteem. If, on the other hand, you
were dependent on another person to make the world seem right for you, your self–esteem was
also hurt and damaged.
These sources helped to distort your thinking, emotions and actions, resulting in lowered self–
esteem. Your thinking was affected by irrational beliefs not founded in reality but motivated by
the need to induce guilt, fear, mistrust, insecurity, and manipulation. This thinking led you to
believe that no matter what you did in life it would "never be good enough.''

This thinking led you to believe that you were nothing unless you "did something.'' This thinking did
not allow you to love yourself unconditionally for just being the person that you are.