So how can one overcome what I'm calling negative input? This isn't the same as being around a negative person. What I mean is repeated statements about some facet of your life by different people.

For example, I love basketball, but it's not really part of my life. So when someone says I'm no Larry Bird or not as good a coach as Pat Riley, it doesn't affect my self-esteem because, well duh there's only one Larry Bird and only one Pat Riley.

On the other hand, when I'm told I look like a weasel or I'm the ugliest person they've seen, I can act like it doesn't bother me ... heck, it may not, but after hearing it year after year from so many different people, it hurts my self-esteem and makes me feel terrible.

So how do I overcome something about myself that it seems like so many people feel the need to point out? I mean, it's rude as heck to point out that an amputee is missing a limb, so what gives someone the right to make sure I'm reminded that I'm not smart? How do I focus on my strengths when so many focus on my weaknesses?

P.S. It's not that I get 7 good compliments to 1 bad. As an example I can count the number of people that say I'm attractive on one hand, but the number of people that need to remind me that I'm ugly would fill a Wal-Mart.