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Remember, Key Point #1: Self-esteem must, in some way, be earned.

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I disagree completely. As children, we require nurturing in every aspect. Not just food and clothing. Our Self needs to be nurtured, too.

Parents that don't know this failing, then it is up to us to take stock of ourselves; our strengths and our weaknesses. Recognize and accept our strengths and also recognize and accept our weaknesses. When our weaknesses are recognized, then we can set about fixing them in whatever means possible as long as it's healthy.

If 20 or so years I go I had said "I am me" I wouldn't have been happy with "me." There was a whole lot that needed to be fixed, there were many things I didn't know were possible. To have accepted the "me" that was then would have meant that many more years of frustration and failure. I had to change my "black and white thinking" to the point I realized there are many shades of grey.

If I had accepted my anxiety attacks and my depression, who knows! I may have already killed myself! I had to learn to THINK differently along with the help of medications.

When I suffer with low self-esteem, I also need to gather input from others to see what I may have lost sight of.