by Jayne Bonilla

Created on: April 03, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

I like to think of self esteem as the emotional fuel in a person's tank. We, like automobiles, operate at our best when our self esteem, or emotional fuel is registered full. But in order to feel full, we must first be fulfilled. Fulfillment comes from the inside out. It means being content with who we are and living an authentic life.

As fuel prices are escalating, we also know that the cost of good self esteem is not to be under estimated. Without it, there is a price to be paid. Low self-esteem can lead to a lack of confidence, insecurity, anxiety and depression. These may lead to a plethora of emotional and physical health issues.

While good self esteem seems to come more naturally to some than others, it takes a conscious effort to feel good about one's self especially during the more challenging times of life. It is paramount to appreciate one's abilities, talents and individuality. It is celebrating one's strengths, accepting one's weaknesses, and embracing the knowledge that every day is a new opportunity to grow, to learn and to evolve into happier human beings.

"It is better to improve than it is to prove." Healthy self-esteem is derived from working from the inside out instead of depending on the outer world for fulfillment. Balancing your life and managing your time to avoid feeling overwhelmed, can be the best direct route to increasing and maintaining good self esteem. And the best self esteem tune up you can have, is to make a difference in others' lives. It is like placing high test fuel right in your tank.

Surrounding one's self with positive people can also be a boost to your self esteem. It shouldn't serve as the cake however, but the icing on top. And it is important to avoid those who will attempt to sabotage your good self esteem just to make them self feel better. Remember, no one can make you feel bad about yourself without your permission.

It is a hard, cold truth that sometimes we take better care of our automobiles than ourselves.
Isn't it time we place ourselves, our relationships and what we value most at the top of our priority list? And remember to keep a full tank for yourself. You don't want to let your self esteem get low and eventually have to pull off the road of life. Though we all need a jump start from time to time, it is much less risky to refuel your tank way before you reach empty.

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