[Jamie]

Okay, I've put this thread here, because it seems the best place for it...

I've been listening to audio books! *shock* ... currently I'm working through Jack Canfields' How to Develop High Self Esteem, it's pretty good actually. But, my question is ...

By working through such a program (could be any program), am I not subtly telling myself, that I have low self-esteem? Kinda like, as soon as you try to start developing yourself in any one area, the implication being that you're lacking in that area?

It also seems related to the issue of discussing your issues with other people in an open forum like this, and it kinda does reinfoce beliefs of lack etc. As opposed to a direct realisation that you're perfectly OK as you are. It should be a snap-of-the-fingers type emotional realisation. Bang! You're there. Sorted.

Conversely, the more you try and work towards something, the more you're indirectly sending yourself a message that "you're not there". As such, does all this self-help stuff have the opposite effect?

What do you think?