Self-Esteem is Key to Your Success

I've got to believe that self-esteem gets a bad rep due to subjectivity - or maybe Kanye West... But self-esteem plays a pivotal role in how we see and define success for ourselves. Now sure, self-esteem does take a bit of audacity, but I would argue why be anything less than audacious in this ONE life that we get? Yes, self-esteem is about ego; and yes, self-esteem is about self-worth, but that shouldn't be conflated with vanity or selfishness or having the decency to do well by and care about our fellow human beings.

Esteem health, and specifically good esteem health, is a key driver in our ability to live a fulfilling life. Without strong self-esteem, none of us are able to tap into that ability to grow into the best version of ourselves. We never allow ourselves to enjoy the fruits of our labor - and don't ever let anyone ever tell you that you're not deserving of that.

I used to have a football coach who would tell us, "Son, no one benefits from you playing small." And the more life I lived, the truer I found those words. I found that so often we are all susceptible to being trapped by the intrusive thoughts, by the lack of exposure, and the projected fears of others upon us. These are the things that dim the light that we are all naturally born to shine. They're the things that tell us to just settle for being mediocre and to never strive for anything better than just good enough.

But what if I told you that we all have the great ability to listen to a different voice? A voice that tells us that we are worthy of more than good enough? A voice that aligns with our core values and allows us to live a life that resembles some sense of purpose? Well, we do... And the way to amplify that voice is by defining that purpose for our lives and walking in it daily.

You see, I believe that we were all born with strengths. And I'm not talking about muscle. No, I'm talking real strengths. Those things that come naturally to us; that make us feel like we are doing something worthwhile in the world. If you can make your chief aim in life discovering and leaning into what those strengths are and exhausting them fully, you are on your way to tapping into a great sense of self-esteem and living a fulfilling life. In fact, I believe if you can lean into those strengths, having good self-esteem becomes a byproduct of striving for that greatness. And if no one ever told you, let me be the first: you are worthy of greatness. So go chase it.