Hi Ray,

Wikipedia has a good page about self-esteem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-esteem

I think I found the source of your definitions for the word 'accept'. If you had read a few more entries, you'd have come across this definition: "to consider that something is suitable, or good enough for a particular purpose"I would say to you please add this definition to your list as it is very appropriate to the intention, and purpose of your question.

Following are some differing viewpoints which expand upon your definitions.

"to recognize that something is true, fair, or right" we can also recognize these things, by knowing their opposite definitions: not true, unfair, and not right.

"to recognize that a bad situation exists and cannot be avoided or changed" notice the word "situation" it is the "situation" that is bad (negative), NOT the person. Bad, as used here, means negative, and does not imply a moral judgement.

And now for the definition that wasn't included:
"to consider that something is suitable, or good enough for a particular purpose" to give some thought to the realization that you ARE good enough to think about yourself in ways that are true, fair, and right.