</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Rapunzel said:
</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
I got slammed growing up for trying to be better than I really was. I wasn't allowed to try to present myself in a positive light - it was like that would be dishonest and unacceptable.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

(((((((((Rapunzel)))))))))
This kind of upbringing is so hard to grow away from. I can relate. I haven't seen many of your posts so can't comment on how you've changed but I sense that since you are a Mod here, you are all about improvement. Hard to imagine you NOT having covered some very good ground!

I think that self-esteem is a neverending goal when one has been raised believing we are 'stupid' or 'less than'.