Self Esteem: Friend or Foe Essay Example

up to be more than we are. She declares that this notion is contradictory to the psychiatric and psychological fields, stating that it would be hard to have patients pay to be beaten down, and leave feeling worse about themselves. Slater introduces a Japanese therapeutic practice called “Morita” which centers on separating ones feelings, cares, and worries from oneself, and refocusing them on something other than themselves.Slater proposes that we might be more successful by practicing more self-control.

She gives examples of therapeutic programs that concentrate on self-control. She shares the idea that it may not be of import how we feel about ourselves but how well we do, citing Sigmund Freud that work and love are essential. She branches off from self-control and self-responsibility to self-appraisal to understand where we are weak and frail, and where we flourish and are stable. This self-appraisal is her remedy to our so-called woes of self-esteem.I think this self-appraisal may be key to the solution to the problems mentioned, but not to the solution to self-esteem.

For, I believe that there is no problem with self-esteem, but as Slater herself suggested, many people confuse self-esteem with pride and egotism. Therefore I agree with Slater that self-appraisal may help our society to be more successful and happy; yet, I disagree with various points contained in this article, many of which, however, are not the opinion of the author.I think that a proper definition of self-esteem, something not provided in the original text, would help us in properly seeking out the problems we are seeking to understand. Self-esteem is defined as confidence and satisfaction in and with oneself. Now what

is wrong with confidence and being content with oneself, if it is merited and appropriate? I propose the answer would be nothing. Nevertheless I can see how one could misinterpret arrogance and narcissism for high self-esteem; even though these things are formed by improper feelings about oneself.

Inappropriate pride would most definitely be detrimental and could effortlessly lead one to be offended, easily provoked, or violent.This is because pride and self-esteem are vastly different. Self-esteem means you feel good about yourself, that you are pleased with yourself and confident in your abilities, nothing more and nothing less. These are personal, internal things, involved solely with oneself. Self-esteem, or feeling good about yourself, would naturally lead us to being happy and therefore treating others well.

However, pride, as I will call it, referring to improper pride, is unlike self-esteem; it’s believing that one is better than another person not merely thinking highly of oneself without comparison and competition. These feelings of pride would lead one to belittle and degrade others in an attempt to exalt oneself.The way we combat pride is through it’s antonym, i.e. humility.

How do we do that? Slater suggests using self-appraisal. This is the act of evaluating ourselves, our talents, goals, desires, successes, etc. It’s endless. Using the key of being honest with ourselves in where we stand, we then recognize we are only human and that we have weaknesses. These understandings keep the feelings of superiority and hatred at bay while affording us the room to esteem ourselves of worth.In conclusion, Slater does a good job of sharing many points of view, although we must be careful of misconstruing the problems

of pride and vanity with something enriching like self-esteem.

She does however share a very poignant idea; we could use self-appraising to free ourselves of these other core problems that really affect us. Hence, positive high self-esteem along with humility, understanding, and self-appraisal, is the combination we need. They need not be opposites. We can possess both conjointly and without contradicting ourselves; and in them lies the happiness we seek.