New Year's Wish: A National Boost Of Self-Esteem

I've been thinking a lot about the connection between the state of our nation and how it relates to self esteem. Additionally, I cant help but think that the devastating peril our environment currently faces comes from the lack of positive self esteem we as citizens have. Logically if we don't feel well about ourselves, how can we be proactive for anyone or anything else including the environment? When we feel good about the path our lives are on, we make a multitude of decisions that positively affect the whole, naturally. Now more so than every before, quite the opposite is occurring. The complete disregard of our actions and their long term effects must finally be addressed. Undeniably, we are at a critical breaking point on many levels.

Overall, as a nation at war, our health has never been poorer, our children are rebelling for insight and guidance, the enviro, political, socio economic systems designed to support the variety of daily demands are maxed-out and embarrassingly we are internationally known as one of the worst environmental offenders. I'm sure you agree that enough is enough. The elephant has lived in the room long enough and it's time we stop the gota-have-it-now consumer ride and get back to the basics. We've known that what make us happy doesn't come neatly shrink wrapped in a plastic package or with more horse power, but we find ourselves stuffed to the gills with inconsequential things, enough to fill four homes still feeling unsatisfied. Ah, the life of a modern day American!

The good news is, joy, happiness and contentment is right in our grasp but we can't look to others to do the job for us. It's up to us, and we know it. Politically we've elected a president to help lead the change we've been wanting to see in our country but we need to do our part in following through and pushing it over the tipping point. On a personal level, we need to begin at home and reflect on our personal lives and work toward feeling better about our goals, dreams, self image, commitment to our fitness and health, to making better business decisions, considering the carbon footprint we have on the environment and to prioritize one's family at the top. We need to ask questions and seek out answers. If something doesn't feel right, it's time to speak up and teach your children to do the same.

Open lines of communication between those you love and allow thoughts and ideas to flow, no matter how painful it may be. Gaining positive self esteem within ones life doesn't have to be a painful process although expect some painful realities to come to light. Deal with them, move on and laugh more. Consider this as preparation for the coming months and years ahead for what our country will need from us. Honest, real and committed citizens who want the best for their families and communities. An urgency for change is what we must feel deep within our bones to work toward having the best life possible going forward. This is why positive self esteem is so important. Without it, we settle. By addressing our issues at home and in our nation, it will make us stronger, more able and unified. There is a saying that rings true in my life(no matter how difficult it is): when the thought of changing is harder than change itself, we change. Together if we make a concerted effort to make one positive shift this year, the results will be monumental. At the very least we've collectively contributed to the greater good. Certainly a better place than where we stand today.

Comments

[Raster]

Remember, we only have to avoid fearing "fear" itself.

[BelGazou]

Many Americans are tired to death of the aggressive jingoism and hubris of the last 8 years; the rest of the world is in total disgust. Perhaps all the obnoxious self-congratulation was just a smoke-screen to hide that we knew that we were doing some pretty terrible things to the world at large and right here at home, too.

I was seriously thinking about leaving the U.S. had McCain/Palin won and had been looking for jobs in Canada. Hopefully, this country can begin to return to some measure of sanity as we wrest it away from the money-changers.

[Brillig]

Americans don't need any more narcissistic preening about the fact that their mother's womb was 3000 miles further north when they were born than say- my mothers' was - in some cases, only 200 miles...

What is happening to America is not lack of self esteem, but a complete disavowal of the worth of anyone else in the world, not born in the great USA.

Or, could it be a real lack of self-esteem that causes a population to be so insular and lacking in appreciation for others- their insistence on Labeling others with words they consider derogatory: Third World, Black, Arab, Hispanic, Red neck, and so on - refusing to learn other languages -their lack of manners when in other countries - is this really a reflection of their innate hatred of themselves??

If so, by all means get some Self-esteem for the New Year. Otherwise, some of us think you have more than enough, thank you- and that is why you are now facing ruin: Pride goeth before a fall - especially pride based on nothing more substantial than the mere achievement of being born 3000 miles away from the rest of us.

[cayuse]

Nice post.

We can and should speak out. It is pitiful that in the great piller of Demacracy evolved from the best the Greeks, Romans, English and French had to offer, that the voice of the people has been so deminished by Media, Lobbyist, Think Tanks, and Political and Religeous groups weilding so much political power on our form of government. Uniquely, designe for individual freedom and the persuit of happiness

Yes it is self esteem and not national esteem where it will always begins and ends. Self Esteem does start with the SELF.

Against all odds and all this pressure the people did speak out the only way they could. For now it has worked and we can only hope it will once again speak positively for the nation and mankind again. It will remove great pressure making self esteem easier for each of us to persue.

[weatherwaxx]

I think the US as a whole has too much self-esteem with no basis for it. That's okay for small children -- but real esteem has to be earned. Self-esteem and self-respect have to include respect for others, which the US has been sorely lacking lately. And I'd bet most Americans can't separate the notion of self-esteem from the idiocy of entitlement.

New Year's Wish: A national boost of sanity, reason, and reality.

[mjstone323]

Emme - Thank you kindly for this - I remember coming to the same conclusion a few months ago, that our country's deepest need is a sense of self-esteem, something that keeps us from grasping things that are toxic and hurtful for us and others, keeps us satisfied and working for good. I really appreciate seeing another person's well-written exploration of something I feel deeply about. I'm looking forward to the future for once in a very long time - I hope that everyone in our country will embrace this opportunity to nurture ourselves and others with things that money can't buy. There's a struggle ahead, but in my experience what comes from this is a drawing together and an opportunity for connection and positive growth.

[sloreader]

Empathy is the key.

[tkostenko]

em, i have to tell you, elan and i were one foot out the door looking for another country to raise rafael in just a few months ago. this election has changed that for us. i'm no longer ashamed to show my US passport when we travel. we now have a representative of our country that speaks for me! and those like me that travel and love the world and have medium income and need good health care for ourselves and our children and love good food and wine and art, and want to live together in a country that feels like home.
many blessings to you and toby this year... big kiss, t

[scomfort]

I agree & hope Americans will face January's inauguration with a spirit of "cleaning house", like our government is cleaning house so we'd better do so, too. Not just sending a few bags of stuff to the 2nd-hand store, not just switching more incandescents to fluorescents, not just buying some more cosmeticsdatabase.com-low-ranked products. I mean cleaning out emotional and spiritual houses, too, like committing to being present more and buying presents less. Like spending money on things that matter, like organic food that you cook at home, or a refurbished bike that you'll use to get to work. Time for Americans to get back to basics.

[Alex Pattakos - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Emme,
Nicely said! Your post reminds me of a quote, "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent," from Eleanor Roosevelt. It's time to focus on the personal and collective responsibility needed to see the "change that you can believe in" become a reality!

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Emme- I couldn't agree with you more. A positive sense of self is paramount. Self esteem for me is accepting yourself warts and all.

Deb and I are keen to say that humour and not taking ourselves too seriously are quite liberating.

"If you have a romance with yourself you won't have competition"- Oscar Wilde

Life is an adventure,

Ed

[crickey]

Emme - so well put! Thank you for this word of encouragement for what will definitely be a challenging year for many of us. I love what you've shared and will share it with my friends too.

[Midnightrain]

Rugged individualism breeds rugged arrogance, the antithesis of positive self-esteem. The basics you are calling us to get back to, have to do with community sharing, reciprocity and a shared sense of destiny. It is my hope that our new president will help us to lead ourselves back to those very basic senses; we have denied them a place in our existence for far too long.