I think the secret lies in that we need to feel enough for ourselves first.

I've found that I can become dependent on others in some ways but very independent in many other ways. My T said a long time ago that I would die first before I would take care of myself. Boy, did she miss that one! LOL

Now I know that I am "enough" for myself; enough financially, enough in my physical needs, enough (with God's help) emotionally and enough in the brains department.

If someone doesn't like me the way I am, then they're welcome to move on. I'm not saying that there isn't room to grow. There's always room to grow, but I'm "enough" to myself the way I am right now.

Something else I learned a long time ago, and that was to stop comparing myself to anyone else. You will always find those that you think are "more" than you and "less" than you. That's not a healthy endeavor and whatever self-esteem you think you are building by finding those that you think are "less" than you, it's not real self-esteem. It's false pride. False= fake and in my book, there is very little that is as good as the real thing, including cubic zirconium!

Hang tough, girls! You'll make it!